Archives Scrapbooks

Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V. Rinse, repeat.

Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, May 1947-February 1950

ARCH.2003.30, Rendition: 802702

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image displays a vintage, photocopied or reproduced article from a magazine or journal, laid flat on a light gray surface. The page is aged, slightly creased, and appears to be from the mid-20th century, dated “MARCH 1948” at the bottom right.

Header and Publication Details:

  • At the top left, there’s a light green rectangular “Press Clipping Bureau” label from “Bukkeller’s ESTABLISHED 1888,” located at “165 Church Street – New York.” This indicates the article was clipped from a publication and likely archived.
  • The article is from “MAGAZINE OF ART,” with the office listed as “Washington, D.C.” The date “MARCH 1948” is printed at the bottom right.
  • The page number “PAGE 98” is visible at the bottom left.

Title and Author:

  • The headline reads: “TWENTIETH-CENTURY NOSTRUMS: PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC THEORY IN AMERICAN PAINTING”, printed in bold, uppercase letters.
  • Bylined: BY MILTON W. BROWN.
  • A handwritten annotation, “Harvard,” appears under the title, likely added later by a reader or researcher.

Article Content:

  • The article critiques early 20th-century American artists who attempted to apply pseudo-scientific theories — such as “dynamic symmetry” and “esthetic systems” — to art, believing these principles would provide objective, mathematical foundations for beauty.
  • Names mentioned include Jay Hambidge (dynamic symmetry), Denman W. Ross (form measurements), and Hardesty G. Maratta (musical notation of color).
  • The text argues that these theories were based on misapplied or misunderstood scientific principles, and that these “pseudo-scientific” approaches often failed to produce meaningful or enduring art.

Illustration:

  • The right-hand column features a large, black-and-white diagram titled:
    “Diagram illustrating dynamic symmetry. L. D. Caskey, Geometry of Greek Vases: . . . Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 1922.”
  • The illustration consists of:
    1. A large central drawing of a classical Greek amphora with overlaid geometric construction lines (triangles, grids, proportions) demonstrating how its form supposedly遵循s “dynamic symmetry.”
    2. Below are three smaller diagrams showing different Greek vases, each with similar geometric overlays, illustrating how the theory was applied to analyze classical forms.
  • The artistic style of the diagram is schematic, intended as an educational or analytical tool rather than a fine art reproduction.

Additional Notes:

  • At the bottom left, a note reads: “THIS ARTICLE FORMS A CHAPTER IN A NEW BOOK IN PREPARATION BY MILTON BROWN, MEMBER OF THE FACULTY OF BROOKLYN COLLEGE.”
  • The overall tone is scholarly and critical, examining the historical intersection of art, pseudoscience, and formalism in American art education and practice.

In sum, the image captures a historically significant art criticism piece from 1948 that examines how American artists of the early 20th century attempted — and often failed — to ground their aesthetic choices in pseudo-scientific systems, illustrated with classical vase geometry to demonstrate the theory’s application.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

The image is a scan of a page from a publication discussing pseudo-scientific theories in American painting during the 20th century. The title of the article is "Twentieth-Century Nostrums: Pseudo-Scientific Theory in American Painting" by Milton W. Brown. The text explores how various artists and theorists, influenced by scientific principles, sought to establish immutable laws and systems in art, often with limited success. The article discusses theories such as Jay Hambidge's dynamic symmetry, Arthur B. Davies and Gustav Eisen's inhalation theory, Denman W. Ross's esthetic system, and Hardesty G. Maratta's form measurements and musical notation of color. The text references historical and cultural contexts, including the influence of ancient mystic measurements in art and the rational efforts of Greek philosophers.

On the right side of the page, there is a diagram illustrating dynamic symmetry, attributed to L.D. Caskey, as part of the "Geometry of Greek Vases" book published by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1922. The diagram shows a Greek vase with various measurements and geometric lines to depict dynamic symmetry. The image appears to be a page from an academic or art journal, with the paper showing signs of wear and tear, including some creases and a small tear near the bottom right corner. There is a label in the top left corner that reads "Burrell's Press Clipping Bureau" with an address in New York, and a handwritten note that says "Harvard" on the top left corner of the page.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

The image is a scanned page from a magazine or article titled "Twentieth-Century Nostrums: Pseudo-Scientific Theory in American Painting" by Milton W. Brown. The text discusses the application of scientific principles to art, particularly in the early 20th century, and critiques various pseudo-scientific theories that were popular among American artists. The article mentions figures such as Jay Hambidge, Arthur B. Davies, Gustav Eisen, Denman W. Ross, and Hardesty G. Maratta, and their attempts to systematize art through scientific methods.

The page includes a diagram illustrating dynamic symmetry, attributed to L. D. Caskey, from the book "Geometry of Greek Vases," published by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1922. The diagram shows a vase with geometric lines and shapes overlaid, demonstrating the concept of dynamic symmetry.

In the top left corner, there is a green label from "Byrrell's Press Clipping Bureau" with the address 165 Church Street, New York, and the date March 1948. The label also mentions "MAGAZINE OF ART (Washington, D.C.)." The page number at the bottom left is 98, and the word "Harvard" is handwritten in the top left margin of the article. The bottom right corner of the page has the word "MARCH."

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image is a page from a magazine, specifically "Magazine of Art," dated March 1949. The page features an article titled "Twentieth-Century Nostrums: Pseudo-Scientific Theory in American Painting" by Milton W. Brown. The article discusses the influence of pseudo-scientific theories on American painting in the early 20th century.

The page is divided into two columns of text, with the left column containing the article's introduction and the right column featuring an illustration and a caption. The illustration is a diagram of a Greek vase, with annotations and measurements, accompanied by a caption that reads "Diagram illustrating dynamic symmetry. L. D. Caskey, Geometry of Greek Vases. Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 1922."

The text on the left column provides context for the article, discussing the rise of pseudo-scientific theories in American art during the early 20th century. It mentions the influence of European artists like Picasso and Matisse, who were exploring new aesthetic principles, and how American artists sought to establish immutable principles in art through the application of scientific methods.

The article highlights the work of artists like Jay Hambidge, who developed the theory of dynamic symmetry, and the influence of scientific theories on the art world during this period. The illustration of the Greek vase and the accompanying caption serve as an example of how scientific principles were applied to art, in this case, the geometry of Greek vases.

Overall, the image provides a glimpse into the intersection of art and science during the early 20th century, and the influence of pseudo-scientific theories on American painting.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image shows a clipping from a magazine, titled "Twentieth-Century Nostrums: Pseudo-Scientific Theory in American Painting" by Milton W. Brown. The clipping is from the magazine "Buffelettes," which was published by the Press Clipping Bureau in 1949. The clipping discusses the use of pseudo-scientific theories in American painting during the 20th century, specifically focusing on how some artists attempted to rationalize their work through scientific principles. The article mentions various artists and their theories, such as Jay Hambidge's dynamic symmetry and Arthur B. Davies and Gustav Eisen's system of Denman notation. The clipping also includes an illustration of a Greek vase with geometric lines and measurements, possibly related to one of the mentioned theories.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image shows a page from a magazine titled "Twentieth-Century Nostrums: Pseudo-Scientific Theory in American Painting" by Milton W. Brown. The page is part of the Magazine of Art, published in Washington, D.C., and is dated March 1949. The article appears to be a scholarly discussion exploring the influence of pseudo-scientific theories on American painting during the early 20th century.

Key Elements of the Image:

  1. Header Information:

    • The top of the page includes a header from the BUFFELLER PRESS CLIPPING BUREAU, located at 165 Church Street, New York, indicating that this is a clipping or reproduction of the original article.
    • The article is identified as being from the Magazine of Art, and the page number is labeled as Page 98.
  2. Title and Author:

    • The main title of the article is prominently displayed: "TWENTIETH-CENTURY NOSTRUMS: PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC THEORY IN AMERICAN PAINTING".
    • The author is identified as Milton W. Brown, who is noted as a member of the faculty at Brooklyn College.
  3. Content Overview:

    • The article discusses how American artists in the early 20th century were influenced by pseudo-scientific theories, such as dynamic symmetry, mathematical ratios, and color theories, which they believed could provide a rational and measurable foundation for art.
    • The text references historical examples, including the Pythagoreans, Leonardo da Vinci, and modern artists like Jay Hambridge, Arthur B. Davies, Gustav Eysen, Wassily Kandinsky, and Denman Ross.
    • It critiques the notion that these theories could be directly applied to art, arguing that they often led to rigid, sterile, or unoriginal results.
  4. Illustration:

    • On the right side of the page, there is an illustration labeled "Diagram illustrating dynamic symmetry, J.-D. Cooley, Goome try of Greek Vases ... Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 1922."
    • The illustration shows a black vase with geometric lines and annotations, demonstrating the concept of dynamic symmetry—a pseudo-scientific theory that attempted to apply mathematical principles to art.
  5. Footnote:

    • At the bottom of the page, there is a note stating: "This article forms a chapter in a new book in preparation by Milton Brown, member of the faculty of Brooklyn College." This indicates that the article is part of a larger, forthcoming work by the author.

Visual Layout:

  • The page is formatted in a standard magazine style, with a mix of text and an accompanying illustration.
  • The text is dense and academic, with a focus on historical and theoretical analysis.
  • The illustration is placed to the right, providing a visual example of the concept being discussed.

Context:

  • The article reflects a critical examination of the trend in early 20th-century American art to adopt pseudo-scientific theories as a basis for artistic practice. It highlights the tension between artistic intuition and the desire for rational, measurable systems in art.

Overall, the image presents a scholarly critique of the influence of pseudo-scientific theories on American painting, illustrated with a visual example of one such theory in practice.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

This image depicts a vintage magazine article titled "Twentieth-Century Nostrums: Pseudo-Scientific Theory in American Painting" by Milton W. Brown. There is a label in the upper-left corner from Buff Keller’s Press Clipping Bureau, which provides details of its origin, suggesting the article was clipped and archived. It appears to have been published in the Magazine of Art in March 1948.

The article discusses the influence of mystical measurements and pseudo-science on art theory throughout history, focusing on its manifestations in American painting. It critiques theories and approaches stemming from attempts to blend science and art, labeling them as "pseudo-scientific."

To the right, there is an illustration marked as "Diagram illustrating dynamic symmetry" containing geometrical overlays on vase designs, attributed to D.L. Caskey's work found in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (1922). This visual appears to further analyze artistic principles or symmetry concepts referenced in the text.

The paper has visible signs of wear, fold marks, and handwritten annotations, including the word "Harvard." The clipping has page and publication details typed at the bottom. Overall, the document conveys a scholarly discourse on art history and its theoretical intersections with science.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

  • A two-column magazine article page titled “TWENTIETH-CENTURY NOSTRUMS: PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC THEORY IN AMERICAN PAINTING” by Milton W. Brown.
  • Right side features a large black-and-white diagram of a vase with geometric construction lines and small side diagrams; caption references L. D. Caskey and the Geometry of Greek Vases (1922).
  • Left column contains dense text with an apparent handwritten note “Harvard” near the top.
  • A small blue-green press clipping bureau slip is attached at the top left, stamped with “MAR 1949” and an address (New York).
  • The page looks aged and slightly creased, with a central vertical crease and rough, torn edges at the bottom.

OpenAI, gpt-4

This image is a photograph of a press clipping from a publication. At the top left corner, there is a label or stamp that says "Buzzelles ESTABLISHED 1858 PRESS CLIPPING BUREAU," along with an address in New York and a date stamp of "APR 1949." The article itself is from the "Magazine of Art" from Washington, D.C., as indicated by another stamp. The article's title is "Twentieth-Century Nostrums: Pseudo-Scientific Theory in American Painting," by Milton W. Brown.

The article discusses the influence of scientific concepts on the theory and practice of American painting. It references various examples where ideas from science have been applied or misapplied to the arts, causing controversy or leading to what the author terms "pseudo-scientific" theories within the art world.

Accompanying the article is a diagram labeled "Diagram illustrating dynamic symmetry. L. D. Caskey, Geometry of Greek Vases...", which is referenced in the context of discussions on dynamic symmetry in the article. It is from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, dated 1922.

This clipping is evidently meant for archival, research, or reference purposes, given its organized categorization and dating. It provides a historical perspective on the debate about the role and validity of science in the interpretation and creation of art during the early to mid-20th century.

OpenAI, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

This image shows a clipped article titled "TWENTIETH-CENTURY NOSTRUMS: PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC THEORY IN AMERICAN PAINTING" by Milton W. Brown. The article is from the Magazine of Art, dated March 1948, as indicated by the label from "Byrfelle's Press Clipping Bureau" in New York attached to the top left corner.

The article discusses the influence of scientific and pseudo-scientific theories in American painting during the twentieth century. It references the search for universal laws in art, the impact of mystic measurements, and the quest by modern artists to establish aesthetic principles akin to scientific laws. Various artists and theorists such as Jay Hambidge, Arthur B. Davies, and Gustav Eisen are mentioned in relation to these pseudo-scientific ideas.

On the right side of the clipping, there is a diagram illustrating "dynamic symmetry," attributed to L. D. Caskey and showing the geometry of Greek vases held by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts from 1922. The diagram includes a large image of a vase with geometric lines overlayed, along with three smaller versions of the image below, each demonstrating different geometric grid overlays.

The article also notes that despite the scientific aspirations of these artists, some of the ideas were misapplied or misconceived, hence labeled as "pseudo-scientific." It closes by mentioning that the article forms a chapter in a new book by Milton Brown, a faculty member at Brooklyn College.