Poster 1
Stuart Davis Photograph
Has anyone ever heard of the artist Stuart Davis? If so, what comes to mind when you hear his name?
Stuart Davis was one of the great American artists who depicted America very differently from the way other artists during his time painted. He was much more modern in his style, and in a minute, you’ll see how his work looks very different from some of the other artists we’ve looked at these past couple of years.
He was born in an artistic family - his mother was a sculptor and his father was a newspaper art editor. He lived in New Jersey and began studying art in New York at the age of 16.
(Feel free to take any other tidbits of information from the bio that you’re comfortable adding here, but be sure to keep it brief!)
(Show Overview Poster 2)
Poster 2
When he first started painting, he painted like his teacher, as you can see by comparing his teachers work (image 1, teacher: Robert Henri, Snow in New York) with Davis’ own painting of NYC, Chinatown (image 2).
Poster 3
Soon after, he learned about other artists working in Europe at the time who painted in a modern style (image 3, Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending a Staircase, No.2).
This inspired him to completely change his style (image 4, Stuart Davis, Egg Beater).
Now let’s look closely at some more of his work and see what you think!
Poster 4
Anchors, 1930
Suggested kinds of questions:
Let’s begin by describing what you see happening in this painting? water, boats, harbor, sailing
If you look closely, you’ll notice that Davis included things that are both real and more abstract (not real).
What other kinds of recognizable things do you see? in lower left corner – large red anchor, in upper left, vertical masts of ships, fishing nets and rigging, distant view of harbor, cart, crane and mast at the right
What kinds of abstract (not real) things did he include? general shapes, lines, circular pattern
How would you describe the colors in this painting? Quiet, dull
What time of day do you think it is? He doesn’t really indicate through showing light or dark, color of the sky, etc.
How does color contribute to the overall feel of this piece? Elicits more calm
As the viewer, where are you standing? Are you on a boat, or are you on land or in the water? How does Davis show you where you are in the space?
If you had to give this painting a title, what would you call it?
Davis traveled the summer before painting this studying the water and boats – that may be how he was inspired to create Anchors.
Poster 5
Jefferson Market, 1930
Suggested kinds of questions:
What comes to mind when you look at this piece? buildings, city, almost looks like an empty, open space
What else do you recognize? Lamppost, clock on the tower, stairs going up (almost looks like elevated tracks where the Highline is!)
What kinds of colors do you see here? quiet blues and red, gray
Can you tell the time of day here? What do you see that gives you a clue?
Notice how Davis almost makes this painting feel three-dimensional! What does he do to give it that feel? He layers geometric shapes of color (the buildings, the lamppost, etc.) on top of each other. This “layering” became his signature style. Let’s see if we can find any more layering in the other pieces.
Poster 6
New York Mural, 1932
Suggested kinds of questions:
Take a QUICK look at this one. Before you even have time to think, raise your hand and tell me where this scene is: the Big Apple!
How did you know it’s NY? What clues did he give us that this is indeed NYC? NY references – Empire State Building.
What else do you see represented? Why may he have included (whatever the kids say----hats, lion’s head, etc)?
How would you describe the feel of this painting? High energy, exciting
What makes it feel like that? Bright colors, lots of shapes moving around
What direction are many of the lines facing? Up and down - sometimes vertical lines can help give a certain feel of energy
If this is NY, what do you think is missing? What else might you have included?
People, buses, taxis, trees
Poster 7
Report from Rockport, 1940
Suggested kinds of questions:
How is this painting similar or different from the one’s we’ve already seen? things aren’t looking quite as “real” as they previously did - the work is getting a little more abstract. Lots of color, lines, squiggles, shapes and patterns.
How would you describe the lines? Where is your eye most drawn? How does Davis make certain areas more noticeable? Lots of vertical lines – almost forces you to look up – like an explosion or fireworks! The squiggles almost create movement.
What else do you notice in the painting? There are words, letters and numbers! Davis often included words and letters in his compositions – you’ll see the number “8,” “GARAGE”, “Go’s,” “Seine” (that’s a river in Paris, where he lived for a few years!).
What kind of feeling do all of these things give the painting? They seem to help create a feeling of movement, speed and action.
Where do you think this is set? What makes you say that? Looks like city with billboards, road, etc.
Does anyone know what the word “urban” means? Well, he loved to paint the hustle and bustle of the urban environment!
In fact, Stuart Davis once said:
“I paint what I see in America, in other words I paint the American Scene.”
What other kinds of real or “representational” things do you see? Garage, lamppost, sky, buildings, mountains, windows, yellow road, trees, gas pumps,
Can you tell the time of day here? What kinds of colors did Davis use to help you know that?
What do you think this painting “sounds’ like?
Why do you think Stuart Davis decided to paint this painting?
Do you like it? Why or why not?
Report from Rockport is actually considered one of Davis's most important canvases from the 1940s because this is when he really starts experimenting with color (remember Seurat last year?!?!). Similar to the way he layered various parts in some of the other paintings, here he starts to put certain colors next to other colors, which gives the illusion of a three-dimensional space and the liveliness of modern American life.
Poster 8
Owh! in San Pao, 1951
Suggested kinds of questions:
Describe what you see - what kinds of shapes? What kinds of words? Lots of rectangles and squares, first polka dots! Else, 6, NOW, we – some vertical, some horizontal lines
How does he place the color? Here you see his layering technique again quite clearly – the painting feels 3-dimensional - almost like a sculpture.
How does this painting make you feel? Very energetic and alive
Davis and his wife would often go hear jazz, and they loved it! He was a longtime fan of jazz and swing music and was very inspired by the music. He was even friends with famous musicians, such as Duke Ellington.
Some would say this painting actually reflects his love of music. Even though you don’t see actual musical notes, how do you think his music inspired him in this piece? Do you feel any rhythm?!? What does he do to give it that feel?
What kinds of things inspire you to make art? (a little preview to project!)
Wrap-up Discussion (this may happen after your poster discussion or after doing the art project):
We hope you had a good time looking at Stuart Davis’ art.
What did you like best/least about his work?
What will you remember most about Stuart Davis?
· Stuart Davis one of the great artists of 20th-century America. When most of his contemporaries were using 19th-century realistic views of American life, Davis brought Modernism and abstraction into American art
· He used lots of bright colors, shapes and squiggly lines to make abstract paintings that represented how he saw life around him in New York City
· He loved and was inspired by jazz music
· He was also inspired by everyday objects such as gas stations, movies, billboards, storefronts, words from street signs, etc.
· He used words and letters in his work
· Stuart Davis inspired what was later called the Pop Art movement
We hope through your exploration today you’ve gotten a good sense of Stuart Davis’ view of America! Be sure to visit all of his wonderful artwork around New York!
Now we’re going to get creative and make Stuart Davis-like art about what inspires us in our own environments!