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Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Open 10:00–5:00

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Strange Bird

1953

Milton Avery

Associated Names

Milton Avery

Artist, American, 1885 - 1965

The image displays an abstract composition. It includes a large, irregular, semicircular shape with a smaller protrusion on one side, set against a heavily textured black background. The shape is bold yellow with black speckles. The shape resembles a stylized bird with an elongated beak and a curved body. The textured appearance of the black areas surrounding the central figure creates a contrast that draws the eye to the bird-like shape.

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Artwork overview

Medium

color woodcut on wove paper
Credit Line

Gift of the Avery Family, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art
Dimensions

image: 17.7 x 32.9 cm (6 15/16 x 12 15/16 in.)
sheet: 29.4 x 44.6 cm (11 9/16 x 17 9/16 in.)
Accession Number

1991.233.46
Catalogue Raisonné

Lunn 1973, no. 45, ii/ii

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1973

Lunn, Harry H., Jr. Milton Avery: Prints 1933-1955. Washington, D.C.: Graphics International Ltd., 1973, no. 45, ii/ii.

Inscriptions

lower right in plate: MA; lower left in graphite: 18/25; lower right in graphite: Milton Avery 1953

Wikidata ID

Q75117271

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