Drawing for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Axonometric Color Study for Cambridge and Quincy Street Elevations c. 20th century

Curator: Here we have James Stirling's "Drawing for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Axonometric Color Study for Cambridge and Quincy Street Elevations," a study held at the Harvard Art Museums. The dimensions are approximately 30 by 42 centimeters. Editor: It's striking how those bold pink stripes disrupt the expected severity of architectural planning. Curator: Indeed. Note how the axonometric projection allows for a comprehensive view, emphasizing the building's form and spatial relationships without relying on traditional perspective. The color choice is also quite deliberate. Editor: These stripes give visual rhythm, challenging the neutrality often associated with institutional architecture. It makes me think about accessibility and who feels welcome in these spaces. Curator: Precisely. Stirling’s play with color and form invites us to reconsider the very nature of museum architecture. Editor: It’s refreshing to think about how even a simple drawing can spark such conversations about space and power.