Art Theory Text with Low Relief Sketches c. 1923

Editor: This is Stuart Davis's "Art Theory Text with Low Relief Sketches" from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s basically a page of handwritten text with simple sketches at the bottom. I find it fascinating how he combines words and images. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This work reveals a deeper connection between language and visual representation. Davis uses text not just to describe art, but as a form of art itself. The handwritten nature gives it a personal, almost intimate quality, suggesting the artist’s thought process. The low relief sketches mimic that pursuit for flatness. Editor: So the text and sketches function together to reinforce the idea of flatness? Curator: Precisely. It’s about how an artist creates the illusion of depth on a flat surface while simultaneously acknowledging and celebrating that flatness. Do you think this tension between illusion and reality is still relevant in contemporary art? Editor: Absolutely. It makes me think about how artists constantly play with perception. Curator: It reminds us of the continuous dialogue between artists and their materials, ideas, and audience across time.