- Jazz
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In the summer of 1947, "Artnews" magazine invited Stuart Davis to illustrate Ring Lardner’s 1926 "Rhythm." Taking cues from Lardner’s short story, Davis created "Jazz," lifting words and images from the short story in jaunty tones of black and salmon pink. However, the published version of "Jazz" disappointed Davis. Not only were his suggestions for layout ignored, but his original rose tones were rendered in mustard yellow.
While he sketched several versions of this theme, the overall compositions of "Jazz" stands out in Davis’s career. Unlike most of his work of the 1940s, which were colorful and complex variations on earlier paintings, "Jazz" is unique in its graphic simplicity.
ProvenanceThe artist; Estate of artist; Wyatt Davis, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1984; [Salander-O’Reilly Galleries, Inc., New York, 1984]; Irving Deal, New York, October 2, 1984; [Sotheby’s Inc., New York, "Important American Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture," December 4, 1986, sale no. 5524 VANESSA, lot no. 299, color illus.]; [Sid Deutsch Gallery, New York]; [D. Wigmore Fine Art, Inc., New York, 1997]; The Alice C. Simkins Collection, San Antonio, April 22, 1997; to MFAH, 2016.
Exhibition History"The New Spirit in American Painting: 1900-1970," Hammer Galleries, New York, November 6–December 2, 1995.
“American Modern: Works from the Collection of Alice C. Simkins,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, April 15–July 19, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Verso: Inscribed in graphite, top left corner: top lines (?) / cut out sig (?) / paste to backing [cursive, illegible]
Verso: Inscribed in graphite, lower left: 2 LINE RED 41
Verso: Inscribed in graphte, bottom right corner: Stuart Davis / 43 - 7 Ave. N.Y.C. / WA - 9 - 7519 [cursive]
Verso: [none]
Verso: [none]
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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