Color Diagram 1954

Curator: Stuart Davis, a key figure in American modernism, left behind this intriguing sketch titled "Color Diagram." It's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Right away, I get a sense of playfulness from this diagram. It's like a secret code for color harmonies. Curator: It appears to be a preparatory study, perhaps exploring color relationships within a De Stijl framework. We can consider its ties to abstract expressionism and even early graphic design theories. Editor: The handwritten notes, the little boxes… it feels intimate, like a peek into the artist's thought process, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Indeed. It lets us consider the artist's methodology. The color relationships, the interplay between the "K" and "W"... it all suggests a systematic approach to visual composition. Editor: For me, it’s less about the system and more about the raw energy. This diagram has a sort of pre-pop art vibe, if you catch my drift. Curator: I see what you mean. Looking at it now, this might be a pre-cursor to his exploration of American iconography and advertising strategies. Editor: Precisely. Thinking about it now, I would happily put this in my office. Curator: Me too.