Hotel de France 1929

Stuart Davis made this print, “Hotel de France,” using etching and aquatint techniques. Immediately, one is struck by the linear precision and the monochromatic palette that creates a lively, rhythmic composition. The city block is constructed from geometric forms and layered text, and we begin to perceive a certain order. Notice the placement of the hotel and the kiosk with its abstract symbols, the architecture rendered with a deliberate flattening of perspective. Davis employs semiotic play, using images like horses and figures alongside words and geometric shapes. These elements don't just represent; they act as signs within a constructed visual language. Davis destabilizes conventional representation and explores the intersections between urban life and artistic expression. This print encapsulates a broader artistic pursuit of simplifying reality into essential forms, inviting viewers to engage actively with the visual and cultural codes embedded within.