Art Theory Text with Sketch 1949

Editor: Here we have Stuart Davis's "Art Theory Text with Sketch". It's undated, but the sketch gives me a sense of his artistic process. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The fascinating tension between text and image reveals the artist's grappling with abstract theory. Davis positions the artist against naive assumptions about "good" and "bad" subjects. It implicitly critiques the art world's tendency to impose value judgements. Editor: So it’s a challenge to the established art world's norms? Curator: Precisely. Consider the socio-political context: Davis was working during a period of intense artistic experimentation. His words and sketch undermine conservative expectations of what art should be. Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't considered the social implications of his artistic theories.