Art Theory Text with Diagram 1937

Editor: Here we have Stuart Davis' "Art Theory Text with Diagram," a drawing on paper. The diagram is so simple, just squares, but the text makes it seem important. How should we interpret such basic shapes? Curator: The labor here lies not in the execution of form, but in the conceptualization of it. Davis reduces art to basic shapes and text, challenging notions of artistic skill. Consider the means of production, the paper, the pen, the deliberate act of writing and drawing. What is he consuming and producing here? Editor: So, the focus is on the artistic process itself, and how even simple materials can convey complex ideas? Curator: Exactly. By stripping art down to its bare essentials, Davis forces us to confront the materiality of art-making. What else do you notice? Editor: I see that there is also a number, 6, at the top of the page. Curator: Good eye. I wonder what role the number plays. Editor: Now I see the piece in a different light, focusing on the process rather than just the image. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's important to think about how art is made, not just what it looks like.