Sea Grasses and Blue Sea is a masterpiece created in 1958 by the prominent American artist, Milton Avery. This painting exemplifies Avery’s style of simplicity over realism, using broad yet subtle shapes and his personal palette of soft colors. The scene is inspired by the artist’s time spent in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
The canvas is divided into two distinctive yet harmonious trapezoidal shapes of equal size. The upper portion represents the blue sea symbolized by bright blue tones, contrasted with a serene sky presented through muted tones with a hint of pink on the horizon. The bottom part shows the green seagrass, which echoes subtly with the tonality above it.
This artwork represents Avery’s unique approach to drawing and coloring that sets him apart from other conventional artists during his times. It also reflects his poetic imagination while interpreting nature’s beauty through bold color strokes and simple shapes. Sea Grasses and Blue Sea can be seen at MoMA in New York City, where it has been on display for art lovers to appreciate its abstract charm since 1977.