Milton Avery

Grace Borgenicht Gallery, New York

Private Collection

Sotheby Parke-Bernet, New York, 4 December 1980, lot 216 (consigned by the above)

Private Collection (acquired from the above)

Thence by descent to the present owner

In Pale Still Life, Milton Avery’s hallmark style gives new life to a familiar genre. He reimagines a traditional still life composition in simplified shapes and tonal hues. The subtle variations of yellow, red, green and blue are delicately balanced; the incised details are tactile and whimsical; the rich brown background suggests a paradox of flatness and depth. Expertly conceived and executed in quintessential Avery fashion, this work underscores the complexity of what may appear simple.