Art Theory Text with Line Drawings 1955

Curator: This is "Art Theory Text with Line Drawings," created by Stuart Davis. Editor: It looks like a quick study, almost a diagram—the stark blue lines are incredibly direct. Curator: Davis’s interest lay in how the commodification and industrialization of culture impacted artistic production. Note how the tools and material itself—pen and paper—speak to accessibility. Editor: Yes, but consider the deliberate placement of those lines, the text framing the compositions. There’s a clear intention to explore the relationships between form and language. Curator: Indeed, his notes suggest a meditation on color, impact, and line. Davis used his drawings to plan and study the basic principles of artmaking. Editor: It’s like a visual manifesto, stripped down to its barest elements. Ultimately, a fascinating glimpse into the artistic process.