Archives Scrapbooks

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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, May 1947-February 1950

ARCH.2003.30, Rendition: 802706

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

This image displays a scanned page from a printed publication, likely an art journal or book, dated 1948. The page is numbered “1948” at the bottom left and “PAGE 101” at the bottom right.

The page features a column of dense, justified text discussing early 20th-century art theory, specifically “dynamic symmetry.” Key figures mentioned include Arthur B. Davies, Gustav A. Eisen, Jay Hambidge, Denman Ross, L. D. Caskey, and Arthur Pope. The text explains how dynamic symmetry—a mathematical system of composition based on the diagonal of a rectangle—was embraced (and debated) by artists and art theorists as a “mystic principle” to rejuvenate art by fusing it with science and pseudo-scientific methods, especially in reaction to academic tradition.

The page includes two distinct images:

  1. Left Image (Photograph): A black-and-white photograph of a painting titled Eleanor, Jean and Anna (1920) by George Bellows. The caption identifies it as “oil, 59 x 66”, Albright Art Gallery,” and notes it is part of Bellows’ drawing from Jay Hambidge’s Dynamic Symmetry in Composition…, 1923. The painting depicts three women seated together in an interior setting.

  2. Right Image (Drawing): A black-and-white line drawing (likely an illustration from Hambidge’s work) demonstrating the “deflected diagonal” or dynamic symmetry. It shows a seated figure (perhaps a musician or artist) and a standing figure, overlaid with a grid of lines and diagonals that illustrate the compositional principles discussed in the text. The drawing uses thin, precise lines to map out the geometric relationships governing the arrangement of the figures and their environment.

There is also a small, black, handwritten “7” at the bottom center of the page, possibly a pagination or archival marker.

Overall, the page serves as a scholarly analysis of artistic movements in the 1920s, using both textual discourse and visual examples to illustrate the theoretical underpinnings of dynamic symmetry and its influence on artists and critics of the time.

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

The image appears to be a scanned page from a book or article discussing various artistic and theoretical concepts related to composition, art, and design. The page contains text and two illustrations.

  1. Text Content:

    • The text discusses the concept of "dynamic symmetry" and its influence on artists and archeologists. It mentions figures such as Bellows, Henri, Leon Kroll, Denman Ross, L. D. Caskey, G. M. A. Richter, and others who utilized this theory in their work.
    • It references a theory called the "life of inhalation" proposed by Gustav A. Eisen, a zoologist, which was connected with the introduction of modern art in the United States. This theory relates the thorax to emotional life in Greek art.
    • The text also touches upon the work of George Bellows, mentioning a painting titled "Eleanor, Jean, and Anna" created in 1920, and references a book by Jay Hambidge, "Dynamic Symmetry in Composition" from 1923.
    • The latter part of the text discusses the coexistence of several elements in artistic and theoretical thinking, such as systematizing knowledge, equating art with science, and searching for a mystic principle that would rejuvenate art. It criticizes some of these theories as a mixture of academy, science, and pseudoscience.
  2. Illustrations:

    • Left Illustration: A black-and-white photograph of a painting titled "Eleanor, Jean, and Anna" by George Bellows, dated 1920. The painting is an oil on canvas, measuring 59 x 66 inches, and is part of the collection at the Albright Art Gallery.
    • Right Illustration: A line drawing illustrating the concept of "dynamic symmetry." It shows a diagram with various geometric lines and points, likely representing the principles of dynamic symmetry in composition.

The overall theme of the page is the exploration of different theories and their impact on art, with a particular focus on dynamic symmetry and its application in composition.

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

This image is a scanned page from a book or magazine, likely an art history or theory publication. The page is titled "Dynamic Symmetry in Composition" by Jay Hambidge, from the year 1923. It discusses the influence of dynamic symmetry on artists and archaeologists, mentioning notable figures such as Albrecht Dürer, Arthur B. Davies, and Gustav A. Eisen.

The page contains two images:

  1. A black-and-white photograph of a painting titled "Eleanor, Jean and Anna" by George Bellows, created in 1920. The painting depicts three figures seated together, with a child in the foreground and two adults in the background.

  2. A line drawing illustrating the principles of dynamic symmetry. The drawing shows a grid with diagonal lines and various points labeled with letters, demonstrating how the composition of the Bellows painting adheres to these principles.

The text on the page provides an in-depth explanation of dynamic symmetry, its origins, and its application in art. It also discusses other related theories, such as the "life of inhalation" proposed by Gustav A. Eisen and the "occulted spiral" and "deflected diagonal" concepts.

The page is numbered 101 and is dated 1948, indicating that this particular scan or reproduction is from a later edition or compilation. There are some handwritten markings and annotations on the page, including underlined words and a small sketch in the bottom right corner.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image appears to be a page from an academic or historical publication. The page contains text and images. The text is divided into two main sections. The left section discusses the influence of dynamic symmetry on artists and architects, citing examples such as Henri Bellows and Leon Kroll. It also mentions the work of Arthur Davies and Gustav A. Eisen, who explored the concept of "life of inhalation" and its connection to ancient Greek art and architecture.

The right section of the text continues the discussion of dynamic symmetry, focusing on its application in various fields, including science and patent medicine. It highlights the tendency to equate art with science and the desire to create immutable laws in art.

The image on the left side of the page shows a family portrait with a man, a woman, and a child. The image on the right side depicts a diagram illustrating the principles of dynamic symmetry, with lines and geometric shapes.

Overall, the image provides an overview of the concept of dynamic symmetry and its impact on various disciplines, with a focus on art, architecture, and science.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image is a scanned page from a book or magazine that discusses the concept of "dynamic symmetry" in art and architecture, with a focus on its proponents and critics during the early 20th century. The text mentions several figures associated with dynamic symmetry, including Dürer, Arthur B. Davies, Gustav A. Eisen, and Jay Hambidge. It also references Leon Kroll, Fine D. Casky, G. M. A. Richter, and Edwin M. Blake as individuals who either supported or opposed the theory. The page includes a black-and-white photograph of George Bellows' painting "Eleanor, Jean and Anna," along with a diagram illustrating the principles of dynamic symmetry. The image appears to be from a publication that explores the intersection of art, science, and mathematics in the context of modern art movements.

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

The image shows a page from a book or publication titled Dynamic Symmetry in Composition, dated 1923. The page features a combination of text and visual elements:

Text Content:

  • The text discusses the concept of "dynamic symmetry" and its influence on artists and archaeologists. It mentions notable figures such as Henri and Leon Krill, who used dynamic symmetry in their compositions, as well as Diener Ross, who accepted it as part of his teaching. The text also references George Arthur Plimpton, curator of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and other artists and scholars who engaged with this theory.
  • The passage explains how dynamic symmetry was applied in classical art, particularly in Greek vases, and how it was defended by artists like Rhys Carpenter and Edwin M. Blake against criticism. It also touches on the work of Arthur B. Davies, who was inspired by the theory of "life in inhalation," which was linked to the idea of the thorax as the center of emotional and spiritual life.
  • The text critiques the tendency to equate art with science and discusses the coexistence of various elements in the theory of dynamic symmetry, including aesthetics, knowledge, and the desire to systematize.

Visual Elements:

  1. Photograph:

    • On the left side of the page, there is a black-and-white photograph of three individuals. The photograph appears to depict a group of people in formal attire, possibly from the early 20th century. The individuals are seated and standing in what looks like an indoor setting, possibly a gallery or studio. The photograph is labeled with the names "George Bellows, Eleanor, Jean and Anna, 1920," and the dimensions "5 1/2 x 6 1/4." It is credited to the Albright Art Gallery and is noted as a drawing from Jay Hambidge's Dynamic Symmetry in Composition (1923).
  2. Diagram:

    • On the right side of the page, there is a geometric diagram illustrating the concept of dynamic symmetry. The diagram shows a rectangle divided into sections, with lines and labels indicating proportions and relationships. The diagram includes numerical labels (e.g., "1," "2," "3," etc.) and geometric shapes, likely demonstrating the mathematical principles behind dynamic symmetry. The diagram is simple and schematic, aimed at explaining the theoretical basis of the concept.

Layout and Design:

  • The page is formatted with a clean, academic style. The text is typed in a serif font, typical of early 20th-century publications. The photograph and diagram are placed side by side, with the photograph on the left and the diagram on the right, creating a balanced visual composition.
  • The page number "101" is visible at the bottom right, indicating this is part of a larger work.

Context:

  • The page appears to be from a scholarly or artistic discussion of dynamic symmetry, a theory that sought to apply mathematical principles to art and design. The inclusion of both a photograph and a diagram suggests an effort to illustrate the theory with both practical examples (the photograph) and theoretical explanations (the diagram).

Overall, the image combines textual analysis with visual representation to explore the concept of dynamic symmetry in art and architecture.

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

This image consists of a printed page that includes text and two visual elements near the bottom. The text primarily discusses "dynamic symmetry," mentioning its influence on art, archeology, and science. It refers to several individuals and theories, including those of artists like George Bellows and theoreticians such as Jay Hambidge.

Key Visual Elements:

  1. Left Image: A photograph or reproduction of a painting titled Eleanor, Jean, and Anna (1920) by George Bellows. It features three figures in an interior setting, two seated and one standing. The black-and-white image has blurred or obscured faces.

  2. Right Image: A simplified, geometric overlay or diagram that likely relates to the idea of dynamic symmetry. It shows lines radiating across a square border with basic outlines of figures and composition matching the layout of the painting on the left.

The page appears to originate from an art-related publication dated 1948, with references to modern art, classical influences, and scientific principles in composition. The text cites various theories about art, science, and design, emphasizing their interconnected nature.

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

  • The image shows a grayscale photograph of a printed page laid flat. It looks like a magazine or brochure page with dense blocks of small text across the top half and two images at the bottom.

  • At the bottom left is a small black‑and‑white photograph of a painting (caption mentions George Bellows, “ Eleanor, Jean and Anna,” 1920, oil on canvas).

  • At the bottom right is a line-drawing diagram: a technical illustration with a figure inside a rectangular grid, intersecting diagonals and many straight lines, likely illustrating dynamic symmetry.

  • The page has a worn look: there is a torn piece of another page overlapping the top left corner, and some page numbers/credit lines along the bottom (“1948” on the left, “PAGE 101” on the right). The overall vibe is scholarly, discussing art theory and composition.

OpenAI, gpt-4

This image shows a printed page from a book or article, which is focused on the topics of art, symmetry, and possibly art theory, as inferred from the visible text. The left side of the page includes a historical black and white photograph of a person in a dress, seated and engaging with a visual task. The photograph is accompanied by a caption that reads "George Bellows, ELEANOR, JEAN AND ANNA, 1920, oil, 55 9/16 x 66", Albright Art Gallery," which indicates that the photograph is documenting a painting by George Bellows. Below this photograph, there's a print identifier "1948."

The right portion of the page features an illustration with multiple lines intersecting and forming various geometric shapes over two figures, suggestive of an analysis of compositional elements based on dynamic symmetry. The text around the illustration discusses various aspects of dynamic symmetry, art theory, and their application. There are references to academic figures and publications, indicating a scholarly discussion on the subject. The bottom of the page has "PAGE 101" indicating that this is a page from a larger work.

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

The image shows a page from a book or magazine discussing "Dynamic Symmetry" and its influence on art and archeology. The text explores the concepts behind this theory, mentioning key figures such as Arthur B. Davies, Gustav A. Eisen, Henri and Leon Kroll, L. D. Caskey, and Jay Hambidge. It also references the relationship between dynamic symmetry, Greek art, and the emotional and spiritual aspects of drawing.

At the bottom of the page, there are two images side-by-side. The left image is a black-and-white photograph titled "George Bellows, ELEANOR, JEAN AND ANNA, 1920, oil, 59 x 66", Albright Art Gallery," showing four people sitting and one standing, although the faces are blurred for privacy. The right image is a line drawing labeled "Bellows's drawing, from Jay Hambidge, Dynamic Symmetry in Composition... 1923," which shows the same group of people in a schematic composition with geometric lines illustrating the principles of dynamic symmetry.

The text also discusses the tensions between the scientific approach to art, the role of academic traditions, and the attempts to rejuvenate art through a mix of scientific, academic, and almost mystical elements. The page number, 101, is noted at the bottom right corner.