Vermont Landscape 1943

This sketch of the Vermont Landscape was made by Milton Avery, likely in the mid-20th century, using pen and ink on paper. The quick, jagged lines, suggestive of trees, rocks, and sky, reflect a modern sensibility and a rejection of academic realism. Avery was part of a generation of artists in the United States who turned away from European traditions to forge a distinctly American art. His landscapes, often rendered in bold colors and simplified forms, capture the essence of a place without slavishly imitating it. This focus on the essential, aligning with the broader shift towards abstraction, questioned the established artistic institutions that favored traditional, representational art. Avery's sketch captures not just a landscape, but a moment of artistic and cultural redefinition in America. To truly understand Avery's contribution, studying the art criticism of his time, examining exhibition catalogs, and delving into the social history of American art institutions are essential. Art like this can then be understood not just as aesthetic expression, but as a reflection of a changing society.