Cello Player 1944

Milton Avery made "Cello Player" with oil on canvas, and I imagine him, brush in hand, figuring out the composition. The simplified forms and muted color palette create a dreamy, almost ethereal quality. I can picture Avery squinting at his subject, trying to capture the essence of the musician and her instrument with the fewest possible strokes. Look at the way he’s reduced the cello to these almost geometric shapes, yet it still feels so present. The thin washes of color create a sense of lightness, and the subtle variations in tone give depth to the flat surfaces. I love the way the blue of the dress contrasts with the warm tones of the cello – it's like a visual harmony. It’s as if Avery is conducting his own symphony of color and form, inviting us to listen with our eyes. Artists are always in conversation, and I like to think that this painting is part of a beautiful, ongoing dialogue about seeing, feeling, and making.