Art Theory Text with Areal Position Relations Diagrams 1940

Curator: Here we have Stuart Davis's "Art Theory Text with Areal Position Relations Diagrams," held at the Harvard Art Museums. It appears to be a page from his notes. Editor: My first impression is of a very direct, almost instructional sketch. It's interesting how the handwritten text interacts with the diagrammatic drawings. Curator: Davis was fascinated with the mechanics of image-making, a key theme in much of his work. This piece exemplifies his exploration of spatial relationships and abstract composition as fundamental building blocks. Editor: Exactly! He's dissecting the process, breaking down the act of drawing into discrete choices, almost like a recipe. It highlights the labor involved, the conscious decisions that go into creating a piece. Curator: And the very act of writing it down, of formalizing these principles, speaks to the institutional context of art education. Davis sought to codify an approach that moved beyond mere representation. Editor: It almost seems like a precursor to conceptual art, where the idea and process are as important, if not more so, than the finished product. I find it quite forward-thinking. Curator: I agree; it provides a fascinating glimpse into the artist’s mind. Editor: Indeed, I find it sheds new light on how to approach his finished canvases.