Drawbridge 1936

Milton Avery made this etching, called 'Drawbridge,' in 1936, and it’s all about how simple lines can conjure up a whole world. Look closely at the bridge itself. See how Avery uses these densely hatched lines to give it weight and shadow? The crisscrossing feels almost frantic, but somehow it balances with the open, airy feel of the rest of the scene. It’s like he's showing us how structures – both physical and maybe even social – are built: layer by layer, mark by mark. The reflections in the water are just these simple horizontal strokes, but they totally convince you of the surface tension. Avery's work always reminds me of Marsden Hartley, another artist who wasn't afraid to strip things down to their essence. It’s this constant paring back that lets us fill in the gaps with our own experiences. Art becomes this ongoing conversation, a shared space of seeing and feeling.