The Mellow Pad 1951

Stuart Davis made "The Mellow Pad" with paint, and I bet a lot of thought, too. Look at those playful colours and sharp shapes! I can imagine him standing there, brush in hand, moving around the canvas, kind of like a jazz musician improvising a tune. Do you see the words in there? "The Mellow Pad"—almost like he's giving us a secret invitation. It feels like he's riffing on city life, all the signs and sounds, but making it his own. The shapes jostle each other, pushing and pulling, like the colors are having a conversation. And those colors! They’re singing. There’s so much energy here. You can almost hear the city's pulse. It makes me think of other artists like Mondrian or Léger, but Davis has his own distinct American voice. Painting’s a game, right? A conversation. We’re all just answering each other across time.