Art Theory Text with Sequence of Position Diagram and Sketch 1950

Curator: Here we have Stuart Davis’s “Art Theory Text with Sequence of Position Diagram and Sketch,” a curious piece in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Davis, born in 1892, was a key figure in American modernism. Editor: My immediate reaction is that it’s like a glimpse into an artist’s wonderfully chaotic brain! Part blueprint, part doodle, and utterly captivating. Curator: Indeed. It provides unique insight into Davis’s artistic process. We see his written notes – almost like instructions – alongside abstract forms. Note the relationship between the text at the top and the diagrams below. Editor: Right, "Decide the color on the basis of equal size..." It's so logical and yet so playful. It makes you wonder what kind of wild, jazzy painting he was trying to figure out with this! Curator: Davis was deeply interested in the relationship between visual art and music, especially jazz. This piece feels like a visual score, a set of instructions for composing an artwork. Editor: It makes you realize that art isn't just about the finished product, but the whole journey of thought and experimentation that goes into it. I find that so exciting!