Angle Theory Diagram 1937

Curator: This diagram, “Angle Theory Diagram,” likely from 1937, is by Stuart Davis and resides at the Harvard Art Museums. It seems deceptively simple at first glance. Editor: I’d say it’s almost… austere? The sharp lines and handwritten notes give it a sense of immediacy, like a quick sketch from an active mind. Curator: Davis was clearly interested in the underlying geometric structures. We can see the diagram’s focus on angular relationships as evidence of his process. He’s applying a system, an almost scientific approach to how shapes interact. Editor: True, the diagonals and bisected square force us to consider the relationships between the angles and the planes they create. The angular variation is the essence. Curator: Indeed, and if we consider Davis’s larger body of work, we can see how this exploration of angles translates into his more complex compositions. It reveals the labor behind his aesthetic. Editor: I agree. It’s fascinating to witness Davis break down form to its bare essentials. You can practically envision the artist's mind at work, searching for the essential geometry of space.