Art Theory Text with Scribble and Plus Sign 1952

Curator: Here we have Stuart Davis' "Art Theory Text with Scribble and Plus Sign," dimensions roughly 11 by 8 inches. It resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a page torn from a notebook, all scribbles and intellectual striving. There’s a raw energy, like the moment before a big idea is fully formed. Curator: Davis was fascinated by the relationship between abstract art and the modern world. His written reflections, like those seen here, explore the nature of artistic perception and the relationship between perception and meaning. Editor: I love the juxtaposition of the formal text with the informal doodles. It suggests that even complex theories can arise from simple observations and personal impulses. The plus sign reminds me of addition, of continually adding layers of meaning and understanding. Curator: Indeed, the plus sign and scribble may also be seen as graphic elements, a part of his visual vocabulary that echo across his art. It captures the energy and rhythm of the modern American experience. Editor: I think I get what he's driving at—art as a continuous, evolving process. It's less about finding definitive answers and more about embracing the questions themselves.