Art Theory Text with Sketches 1955

Editor: This is Stuart Davis’s “Art Theory Text with Sketches,” a small drawing done in pen. The composition seems really simple, just two framed abstract shapes. What do you make of it? Curator: These sketches, while seemingly simple, offer a glimpse into Davis's artistic process. Consider the context: Davis was deeply engaged in debates about abstraction and its social relevance. Could these be diagrams exploring the relationship between abstract forms and the urban environment he so often depicted? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about the "frames" as windows onto something larger. Curator: Precisely. And the inscription "The sequence, connecting passage, is ANY"—that suggests a deliberate breaking down of rigid structures, a liberation of form. How might this relate to the social and political climate of the time? Editor: So, it's not just abstract for the sake of being abstract. It's about challenging established ways of seeing and thinking. Curator: Exactly. Davis used abstraction to engage with the world around him. It’s a powerful statement about the artist's role in shaping perception. Editor: I see it differently now. Thanks!