Art Theory Text Diagram 1937

Editor: Here we have Stuart Davis' "Art Theory Text Diagram." It's a small work on paper featuring geometric shapes and handwritten text. I'm struck by how it looks like a mathematical proof, almost like a blueprint. What's your take on this unusual piece? Curator: It’s interesting to consider this in relation to the rising interest in science and mathematics during the early 20th century. Davis’s diagram reflects a pursuit of rationalizing art, perhaps trying to create a universal visual language divorced from subjective experience. How might this relate to the social need for order after periods of upheaval? Editor: So, it's about finding order and structure through art in a rapidly changing world? Curator: Precisely. By exploring these underlying structures, Davis may have been seeking to redefine the role and meaning of art itself within the social context. Editor: That gives me a totally different perspective!