Drawing for the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Color Study for Quincy Street Elevation c. 20th century

Curator: This drawing, a color study for the Quincy Street elevation of the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, comes to us from the hand of James Stirling. Editor: My first thought is of a child's technical drawing, perhaps of a building block set creation. There's an innocence here, despite the subject. Curator: Stirling often tested his designs through drawing, using them to explore how materials like brick, concrete, and glass might interact, and, importantly, how light would play on them. Editor: The "this side up" note at the top is charmingly practical. But it also speaks to the real, physical work—the labor—behind architectural design. It's not just abstract thought. Curator: Agreed. There's a delightful tension in seeing this very human mark on a design meant to house and display artworks! What a wonderful reminder that art exists in the world through effort. Editor: Yes, and even in its humble, preliminary form, this drawing embodies a kind of hopeful vision. It is a fascinating peek into a significant building's becoming.