Art Theory Text with Sketch 1952

Editor: This is Stuart Davis’s “Art Theory Text with Sketch," probably from 1922. It’s intriguing because it combines text and image. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a wrestling match between the concrete and the abstract. Davis juxtaposes written statements - declarations, almost - with a visual language hinting at urban landscapes. The "outrageous" metaphor he champions perhaps resides in that tension itself. Editor: So, the text informs the sketch and vice versa? Curator: Precisely. Notice how the word "Underworld" sits above a labyrinthine sketch, laden with symbolism of the subconscious, a subterranean landscape. Davis is mapping ideas, building his own visual vocabulary. Do you recognize any symbols? Editor: Not really, but it makes me think about how artists use their own personal symbols. Curator: Absolutely. It's a glimpse into Davis's evolving visual language, a coded message for himself and for us, across time.