Animations:

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

Open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

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

Birds and Sea

1955

Milton Avery

Associated Names

Milton Avery

Artist, American, 1885 - 1965

The image is presented from a slightly elevated point of view, capturing a scene featuring a body of water with abstract birds. The horizon is not distinctly visible as the scene seems to close off at the top with a pattern of abstract marks. The brushstrokes and overall technique convey a sense of abstraction, with a block print style noticeable in the bold, defined lines and simplistic shapes. The color palette consists primarily of deep navy blue and beige, creating a striking contrast that highlights the white spaces representing the birds. Closest to us are abstract shapes and forms resembling birds on a textured surface, and in the distance, the darker expanse hints at more land or possibly water, contributing to the image's stylized depiction.

This object’s media is not available for download. Contact us about image usage.

Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

Medium

woodcut in blue on wove paper
Credit Line

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

image: 24.6 x 61 cm (9 11/16 x 24 in.)
sheet: 30.6 x 68 cm (12 1/16 x 26 3/4 in.)
Accession Number

1991.233.82
Catalogue Raisonné

Lunn 1973, no. 60, ii/iii
Copyright

© 1997 Milton Avery Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1992

Dürer to Diebenkorn: Recent Acquisitions of Art of Paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1992, no. 82.

1994

Milton Avery: Works on Paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994-1995, no. 56.

1995

Milton Avery: Works on Paper, The Hyde Collection, Glen Falls, 1995, no. 56.

1996

Milton Avery: Works on Paper, Allentown Art Museum, 1996, no. 56.
Milton Avery: Works on Paper, James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, 1996, no. 56.
Milton Avery: Works on Paper, The Snite Museum of Art, Notre Dame, 1996, no. 56.

Bibliography

1973

Lunn, Harry H., Jr. Milton Avery: Prints 1933-1955. Washington, D.C.: Graphics International Ltd., 1973, no. 60, ii/iii.

1994

Owens, Carlotta J. Milton Avery: Works on Paper. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: no. 56.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: artist's proof; lower right in graphite: Milton Avery 1955; lower right in block: MA

Wikidata ID

Q75117436

You may be interested in