Color Theory Diagrams 1941

Curator: Here we have Stuart Davis’s “Color Theory Diagrams.” Undated, it resides in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels like peeking into an artist's mind. So raw, like a secret code waiting to be deciphered, don't you think? Curator: Indeed. These diagrams reflect Davis’s deep engagement with color theory, particularly his efforts to systematize color relationships within his compositions. It shows us his process. Editor: Exactly, and the beige paper just adds to the sense of discovery. It's like finding a forgotten map! Curator: Davis aimed to create a universal language of color, a fascinating project to ground his abstract work in objective principles. Editor: Well, it makes you wonder if he ever felt like he cracked the code, doesn't it? Maybe the real beauty is in the attempt. Curator: Perhaps, but I'd argue that this piece invites us to consider how artists attempt to define and control something as intuitive as color. Editor: I like that. It reminds us that even the most abstract explorations are rooted in real, human desires.