Art Theory Text with Pumpkin 1948

Curator: This piece is titled "Art Theory Text with Pumpkin" by Stuart Davis. It's a small work, about 10 by 8 inches, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought is "pumpkin spice latte of the mind." It's cozy, a little messy, and definitely caffeinated. Curator: Davis was very interested in exploring the relationship between language and abstract form. Here, you see his handwriting, almost like a personal stream of consciousness about art making. Editor: Yeah, it feels like eavesdropping on his brain. The "pumpkin" doodle is charmingly out of place, like a visual footnote. I imagine him pausing, thinking of fall, then diving back into his theory. Curator: The text engages with the societal value of art. Davis notes how previously invalid ideas are now considered valid and useful. Editor: It's rebellious, in a way. Like he's saying, "Embrace the weird, the useless, the pumpkin!" I love it. Curator: It’s a look into the artist's mind. Editor: It makes me want to grab a pen and start scribbling my own manifesto, maybe with a side of pie.