Hen 1954

Milton Avery made this woodcut, titled 'Hen', in 1954. It's a dance between black and yellow, a simple palette that really pops. Look closely, and you'll notice the texture. You can almost feel the grain of the wood. See how the yellow sings through the black, especially in the border? It’s not just color; it's light, pushing through. I love the way the hen's body is so round and solid, contrasted with the scratchy lines that suggest its wing. That beak is pretty great, too – just a sharp little triangle, but it gives the hen so much character. Avery's work always feels so fresh and immediate to me, like a visual poem dashed off in a moment of inspiration. You could compare Avery to someone like Marsden Hartley, another artist who wasn't afraid to simplify and find the essence of things. Art, after all, is about seeing and feeling, not just copying what's in front of you.