Sketch 1955

Curator: Stuart Davis created this work, titled "Sketch," part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the compositional arrangement. It feels almost like a comic book storyboard, fragmented and exploratory. Curator: Precisely. The division into framed sections isolates each motif, inviting analysis of line, shape, and the relationship between positive and negative space. Editor: I wonder about the cultural context in which Davis was developing this visual language. What political or social forces were influencing his urge to fragment reality in this way? Curator: Well, Davis was working during a period of rapid urbanization and industrialization. Perhaps these fragmented scenes represent a modern sense of alienation or the breakdown of traditional narratives. Editor: It makes one wonder if these were studies for a larger work, or independent thought experiments. Food for thought. Curator: Indeed. These sketches offer a unique window into the artist's creative process.