A and B Figure Fields 1956

Curator: This curious little sketch is Stuart Davis's "A and B Figure Fields" from his notebooks. It's at the Harvard Art Museums, a glimpse into the artist's process. Editor: Well, my first thought? It's like a visual equation! All these lines and shapes trying to balance each other. It definitely reads as a study. Curator: Indeed. Davis was deeply interested in how abstract forms could convey meaning. Here, he seems to be exploring the relationship between order – those horizontal lines – and something more free-form, maybe even chaotic? Editor: Absolutely. The 'B' side, if you will, has this flowing, almost calligraphic energy. The whole thing feels like a map of the mind, searching for equilibrium. I can see echoes of Cubism in its DNA. Curator: It's a testament to how much visual information an artist can compress into such a small space. These shapes are almost like glyphs or characters, full of hidden potential. Editor: Yes, the simplicity is deceptive. He’s stripped everything down to the bare bones, really forcing us to consider how we create meaning from basic forms. It feels very current, a study in visual balance. Curator: I think you're right. It remains incredibly fresh.