Anthony Maar "Tony" Vevers (1926-2008) Dawn the Morning After
In "Dawn: The Morning After" by Tony Vevers (1963), oil on canvas 31 h x 41 w (79 x 104 cm.) the rendering of the interior space contributes significantly to the painting's unique aesthetic and emotional impact. The way Vevers blurs the distinctions between the floor (horizontal) and the walls (vertical) creates an illusion of an abstract landscape that merges figuration and abstraction seamlessly, achieving a perfect equilibrium and evoking a dream-like reality
Description and Interpretation:
1. **Blurring of Interior Boundaries:**
- The painting's interior does not clearly delineate between the floor and the walls, giving the room an amorphous and fluid quality. This lack of clear boundaries between the architectural elements transforms the space into an almost surreal setting.
- The figures and objects within this space seem to float or dissolve into their surroundings, enhancing the dream-like atmosphere and creating a sense of ethereal ambiguity.
2. **Abstract Landscape Feel:**
- This indistinct rendering of the interior contributes to an abstract landscape effect. The viewer's eye can wander freely across the canvas without being constrained by rigid lines or forms, much like in an abstract composition.
- The subtle transitions between the different planes of the interior echo natural landscapes where elements blend into one another, such as the horizon merging the sky and earth.
3. **Equilibrium Between Figuration and Abstraction:**
- Vevers achieves a balance between figuration and abstraction. The human figures are clearly identifiable and realistically rendered, yet they exist within an environment that is abstract and indistinct.
- This equilibrium allows the painting to inhabit a space that is both recognizably real and fantastically unreal, reinforcing the contemplative and introspective mood of the piece.
4. **Dream-Like Reality:**
- The dream-like quality of the painting is further enhanced by the soft, muted color palette and the gentle, fuzzy lines. These elements contribute to the sense that the scene is being viewed through a haze or veil, as in a dream.
- The blending of boundaries and the abstract landscape effect invite viewers to engage with the painting on both an emotional and symbolic level, interpreting the figures' states of mind and the broader themes of the work.
5. **Sunrise and Nautical Hints:**
- The rising sun appears to emerge from a blue body of water visible through the window, suggesting the start of a new day and emphasizing themes of renewal and reflection.
- The walls and floor unite under a single brown color, which hints at the possibility that the couple is inside the cabin of a boat. This subtle suggestion evokes the idea of the couple sailing through each day, navigating their lives together on an infinite space.
Influences:
1. **Giorgione's "The Tempest":**
- The painting reflects Giorgione's influence through its enigmatic atmosphere and the way the figures are integrated into their surroundings, creating a cohesive and mysterious scene.
2. **Edvard Munch:**
- The dream-like feel and emotional depth of the painting show the influence of Munch, with figures that possess a metaphysical quality, enhancing the introspective mood.
3. **Milton Avery:**
- The simplification of forms and the use of color fields are reminiscent of Avery's style, contributing to the painting's serene and contemplative nature.
4. **Byzantine Mosaics:**
- The human figures in the painting, rendered with a soft and simplified form, are evocative of Byzantine mosaics where figures often appear to float within the decorative domes of churches. This adds a timeless and spiritual dimension to the work.
Literary and Mythological Integration:
1. **Yeats' "Dawn":** The poem's themes of renewal, reflection, and quiet beauty are reflected in the painting's serene and introspective mood. The abstract qualities of the interior space enhance this poetic connection, creating a visual counterpart to Yeats' evocative language.
2. **Leda and the Swan Reference:** The subtle allusion to "Leda and the Swan" within the composition, particularly in the folds of the white sheet, adds layers of meaning. This mythological reference blends seamlessly into the abstract interior, symbolizing transformation and the intersection of human and divine experiences.
Conclusion:
Tony Vevers' "Dawn: The Morning After" masterfully blends figuration and abstraction to create a painting that evokes a dream-like reality. The indistinct rendering of the interior space transforms the scene into an abstract landscape, achieving a perfect balance that enhances the painting's emotional depth and symbolic richness. The rising sun over a blue body of water and the unified brown color of the walls and floor hint at the couple being inside the cabin of a boat, sailing through each day together. The influence of Giorgione's "The Tempest," Edvard Munch's dream-like feel, Milton Avery's simplification of forms, and the spiritual quality of Byzantine mosaics are evident in the visual elements. This approach, combined with literary and mythological references, invites viewers to explore the profound and multi-layered meanings within Vevers' work.
artist biography
**Early Life and Education:**
Tony Vevers was born in England in 1926. During World War II, as Germany's blitz raged on Britain, Vevers was sent to the United States for safety. He landed in Connecticut with his sister, where he attended the Hotchkiss School. It was here that he began painting obsessively, laying the foundation for his future career.
**Academic Pursuits and Artistic Development:**
After his time at Hotchkiss, Vevers served in the Army before attending Yale University, where he majored in painting and drawing. Following his graduation in 1950, he embarked on the traditional artist's pilgrimage to Europe. However, diverging from the common path to Paris, Vevers traveled to Florence, inspired by a contemporary Italian art exhibition he had seen at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
**Professional Career:**
Vevers' early works were geometric pastoral abstractions influenced by his time in Italy, marked by a dreamy sense of order and soft color palettes. Upon returning to the United States, he immersed himself in the vibrant New York art scene of the early 1950s, experimenting with gestural abstraction while maintaining his unique vision.
**Transition to Provincetown:**
In 1953, a trip to Maine prompted Vevers to adopt a technique of using thin layers of color on a white canvas to create luminosity, a method he continued until he began working on sand pictures later in his career. Moving to Provincetown, Massachusetts, Vevers produced his first painting in the area, "Seagull Sky, Mackerel Sea," in 1955. This work signaled a shift towards more figurative and narrative compositions.
**Figurative Period and Influences:**
From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, Vevers created a mature body of figurative work. His style during this period showed the influence of various artists and movements. He drew inspiration from the dream-like atmospheres of Edvard Munch, the simplified forms of Milton Avery, and the spiritual qualities of Byzantine mosaics. His works often balanced figuration and abstraction, creating scenes that were both real and fantastical.
**Personal Life:**
In 1953, Vevers met artist Elspeth Halvorsen on Monhegan Island, Maine, and they married shortly after. They settled in Provincetown, where they became part of a community of young figurative artists. Vevers' work garnered attention and success, with solo exhibitions and sales to prominent collectors like Joseph Hirshhorn and Alexander Bing.
**Legacy and Later Years:**
Vevers' art is characterized by its lyricism, introspection, and balance between figuration and abstraction. His teaching career, notably at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, allowed him to share his passion and skills with a new generation of artists. Tony Vevers passed away in 2008, leaving behind a rich legacy of thoughtful, evocative art that continues to inspire.
Throughout his career, Tony Vevers maintained a commitment to sincere reflection and self-questioning, producing work that transcended fads and fashions. His ability to integrate diverse influences and themes into his art made him a distinctive and enduring figure in the American art scene.