Art Theory Text with Star 1942

Curator: Stuart Davis penned this "Art Theory Text with Star" around 1942. It's currently part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels intensely personal, almost like stumbling upon a page ripped from his private journal. The scrawled handwriting, the lone star—it's like a visual thought in progress. Curator: Indeed, Davis's note delves into the essence of art's subject matter and content, pointing to life itself. He argues that mere representational skill doesn't define art. Editor: I like that—it's a direct confrontation with academic stuffiness. The star adds an almost whimsical touch—a dash of joy amidst the theory. Curator: I read the star as emblematic of Davis's formal concerns too—a geometric figure amidst organic script, the tension between form and content laid bare, echoing the title. Editor: Right, but it's also a reminder that art can be playful, intuitive. Maybe sometimes we overthink things! Curator: Perhaps. But perhaps Davis offers a way to bridge feeling and reason; a synthesis, not a separation.