Gropius Residence, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1938 c. 1938

Editor: Here we have Paul Davis's "Gropius Residence, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1938", held at the Harvard Art Museums. The geometric lines and spiral staircase create such a striking visual. What draws your eye in this composition? Curator: The interplay of orthogonal planes of the building against the helical form of the staircase presents a compelling dialogue. Consider the visual tension established by the stark juxtaposition of these two distinct geometric vocabularies. Editor: That's a very interesting point. So the staircase's curvature is meant to be a contrast? Curator: Precisely. It serves as a dynamic counterpoint to the rigid rectilinearity of the architectural structure, thereby activating the visual field. Are you persuaded of its success? Editor: Yes, I see how the contrast really enlivens the photograph. I hadn't considered it so abstractly.