Sketch 1949

Editor: This is Stuart Davis’s "Sketch," a drawing at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a collection of geometric shapes, all rendered in simple black lines. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: The linear quality is dominant. Note how the artist uses line to define space and form, creating a deliberate flattening effect. Consider the interplay of these lines – do they suggest depth, or are they asserting the two-dimensionality of the paper? Editor: I see what you mean. It’s hard to tell if some elements are in front of others. So, it’s less about representation and more about the relationships between these shapes on the page? Curator: Precisely. The essence of the work resides in the formal arrangement, the syntax of its visual elements. What happens when you isolate individual elements? Editor: Hmm, I guess they become more abstract, less like recognizable objects and more like pure forms. Curator: An insightful observation. The sketch invites us to contemplate the fundamental vocabulary of art – line, shape, and composition. Editor: I never thought about a simple sketch having so much going on beneath the surface. Thanks for the insight. Curator: My pleasure. There’s always something more to discover through close visual analysis.