Drawing for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, perspective from Sever Quadrangle, with color c. 20th century

Curator: James Stirling's architectural drawing offers a glimpse into the proposed design for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, viewed from the Sever Quadrangle. Editor: It strikes me as both monumental and slightly detached—a utopian vision perhaps, rendered with a clinical precision. Curator: Considering Stirling's position within architectural discourse, this drawing can be seen as a response to the prevailing modernist aesthetic of the time. The design integrates historical elements, challenging conventional notions of progress. Editor: Look at the recurring motif of the arch, a classic symbol of triumph and transition. Does it imply a gateway to knowledge, or perhaps a subtle critique of institutional power? Curator: That's a compelling reading! The Sackler, embroiled in controversy, prompts reflection on the ethical dimensions of art and patronage. The drawing embodies these tensions. Editor: I think it's a drawing that makes us consider what values we choose to enshrine in the very architecture of our cultural spaces.