Art Theory Text with Diagrams 1935

Curator: Stuart Davis's "Art Theory Text with Diagrams," likely from 1935. It's quite interesting, isn't it? The script feels so immediate, almost like a working document of his thought process. How does the materiality of this text—the paper, the ink—strike you? Editor: It feels very tactile, like I could reach out and touch his thoughts. It's interesting how he's combining text and diagrams. What do you see in how Davis uses these elements together? Curator: The means of production are exposed. It's a handwritten note, not a polished treatise. The diagrams aren't precise renderings, but tools. He's using language and image as material to construct a theory, to interrogate the very process of making art. Consider the cultural context: Davis engaged with abstraction and the social realities of the Depression era. Does that change how you view the work? Editor: Definitely! It makes me think about the labor involved in creating art and how Davis is breaking down those traditional barriers between high art and more practical forms of communication. Curator: Precisely. And hopefully, it challenges our own consumption of art, prompting us to consider the conditions of its creation. I appreciate how you’ve brought us back to materiality. Editor: Thanks for pointing out all the ways Davis merges theory and practice!