Fish 1952

This woodcut, Fish, was made by Milton Avery in 1952, and what strikes me is its bold simplicity. Can’t you just imagine Avery, carving into that block, guided by a vision of the sea? The blue ink and rough carving give it a wonderful texture, while the stark contrast between the fish and the background is really satisfying. Look at the way the fish is outlined, almost childlike, yet so full of life! You can see Avery's interest in simplified forms and harmonious colors. It's like he's capturing the essence of a fish with just a few strokes. He must have been thinking about Matisse when making this. It reminds me how artists riff off each other across time. I think the conversation between artists is what makes art history so exciting! It’s a kind of embodied expression which embraces ambiguity. There are so many ways to interpret this print. What does it mean to you?