Sketch 1963

Editor: This is Stuart Davis's "Sketch," and it looks like it's ink on paper. Its simplicity is striking, but I'm not sure what to make of it. How do you interpret this work within the context of Davis's other pieces? Curator: Given Davis's later engagement with abstraction and jazz-age modernity, it's tempting to see this sketch as a preliminary exploration of spatial dynamics and rhythmic line. How might this image function as a symbol of something larger about Davis’s life? Editor: I suppose it could be a reflection on urban life, or maybe a way of seeing the world around him, distilled into basic forms. Curator: Precisely. Consider the historical moment. This sketch may be a response to the growing industrial landscape and the rise of mass culture. What kind of public role might a sketch like this play? Editor: It challenges viewers to see the abstract qualities in everyday life. Thank you, I see it in a new light now. Curator: It’s about understanding how art shapes and is shaped by its world. I've learned a lot as well.