Accession Number
117281
Medium
Gouache on black wove paper
Dimensions
45.5 × 30.8 cm (17 15/16 × 12 3/16 in.)
Classification
gouache
Credit Line
Joyce Turner Hilkevitch Collection in memory of Jeanette Stern Turner
Background & Context
Background Story
Milton Avery's Mirror Dancer is a gouache on black wove paper, the dark ground providing a dramatic background for the brightly colored gouache. The subject of a dancer before a mirror allows Avery to explore the play of reflection and doubled forms. The gouache on black paper creates a luminous, jewel-like effect.
Cultural Impact
Avery's gouache works on colored paper demonstrate his mastery of color and his willingness to experiment with different supports.
Why It Matters
This gouache of a mirror dancer uses the black paper ground to create a luminous, dramatic effect.
