Symphony c. 1940

Harold C. Swartz created this artwork called "Symphony" using graphite on paper. In the early to mid-20th century, abstraction provided artists with a visual language to express the complexities of modern life. Swartz leans into a geometric vocabulary. The interplay of light and shadow across spheres, cones, and lines creates a sense of depth and movement, evoking the sensation of music taking form. Consider how abstraction allowed artists to explore themes beyond representation. What does it mean to visualize a symphony? How might this imagery reflect the cultural and intellectual climate of the time? This piece invites us to consider the emotional and sensory experience of music through a visual medium.