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ARCH.2003.31, Rendition: 804299
This image displays a vintage, typewritten clipping from the Harvard Crimson newspaper, dated October 18, 1950. The article, titled “ON EXHIBIT” and written by Stephen O. Saxe, announces and reviews an exhibition titled “Designs for the Theater at Fogg Museum.”
The article focuses on three Harvard alumni who are scenic designers: Robert Edmond Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson. It emphasizes that while their works are displayed as art in the gallery, their true craft lies in creating physical stage settings, not hanging paintings. The author quotes Jones, who viewed scene design as an “intention,” to be judged for its interpretive quality rather than for practical stage attributes like “plasticity” or “compatibility with the play’s flow of action.”
The piece gives special attention to Robert Edmond Jones, calling him the most important designer not just among the three, but in the entire American theater. It notes his influences — Gordon Craig’s “new stagecraft” and Adolphe Appia’s theories of light — and cites his 1915 design for “A Man Who Married a Dumb Wife,” where he rejected historical accuracy in favor of symbolic, cheerful primary colors and light frame construction to capture the “spirit” of the play.
The article concludes by discussing Lee Simonson, noting that while he modified Jones’ emphasis on the designer’s personality, he largely remained faithful to the concept of interpretive, selective realism.
Visual Details:
Overall, this is a historical document highlighting mid-20th-century American theater design, framed within a university context, and serves as an artifact of critical discourse on stagecraft and artistic influence.
The image is a scanned article from the "Harvard Crimson" dated October 18, 1950. The article is titled "ON EXHIBIT" and discusses "Designs for the Theater" at the Fogg Museum. The author of the article is Stephen O. Saxe. The content of the article highlights three Harvard artists—Robert Edmond Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson—who are showcased in the exhibit. The focus is on their theatrical designs, emphasizing that while these are excellent as drawings, their real work is in creating physical stage settings.
The article delves into the philosophy of Robert Edmond Jones, who is described as the most significant designer of the three. It mentions his influence by Gordon Craig's "new stagecraft" and Adolphe Appia's theories of light. Specifically, Jones is credited with a production of "A Man Who Married a Dumb Wife" in 1915, where he avoided traditional medieval scenery and instead used light frame construction and cheerful primary colors to symbolize the spirit of the play. The article also notes that Jones prioritized his personal response to the play over historical accuracy.
The article concludes with a mention of Simonson's approach, which is described as a modification of Jones' emphasis on the designer’s personality while staying true to the concept of interpretive, selective realism.
The image is a scanned article from the Harvard Crimson, dated October 18, 1950. The title of the article is "Designs for the Theater" written by Stephen O. Saxe. The article discusses an exhibition at the Fogg Museum featuring theatrical designs by three Harvard men: Robert Edmond Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson. It highlights their skills as draftsmen, colorists, and composers of scenic designs, emphasizing that their real work involves creating physical stage settings. The article notes that their designs should be judged as "intentions" rather than finished products, focusing on qualities like plasticity and compatibility with the play's flow of action.
The article further describes Robert Edmond Jones as the most important designer in the American theater, influenced by Gordon Craig's "new stagecraft" and Adolphe Appia's theories of light. It mentions a specific production of "A Man Who Married a Dumb Wife" in 1915, where Jones used light frame construction and primary colors to symbolize the spirit of the play, rather than relying on historical accuracy. The article concludes with a note on Lee Simonson's approach, which modifies Jones' emphasis on the designer's personality while maintaining the concept of interpretive, selective realism.
The image shows a piece of paper with text written on it. The paper is old and appears to be a newspaper clipping. The text is written in black ink on a beige background. The text is written in a cursive font and is arranged in a column format. The text is written in a formal tone and appears to be an article about theater design. The article discusses the work of three Harvard men who are scenic designers for the theater. The article highlights the importance of scenic design in theater and the unique styles of each designer. The article also mentions the influence of Adolphe Appia's theories of light on the work of one of the designers. Overall, the image depicts a piece of historical text that provides insight into the world of theater design.
The image is a newspaper clipping from the Harvard Crimson, dated October 18, 1950, titled "On Exhibit: Designs for the Theater at Fogg Museum." The clipping features a brief article discussing an exhibition of theatrical designs by three Harvard men: Robert Edmond Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson. The article highlights their work as scenic designers and emphasizes the importance of their designs as physical settings for the stage, rather than mere decorations. It mentions Jones's influential role in American theater, his innovative approach to design, and how his work was shaped by the theories of Gordon Craig and Adolphe Appia. The clipping also briefly touches on the contributions of Simonson and Oenslager, noting their adherence to the concept of interpretive, selective realism in their designs.
The image shows a scanned page from a publication titled "ON EXHIBIT", dated October 18, 1950, authored by Stephen O. Sax. The page is from Harvard Crimson, a student newspaper. The content discusses an exhibition of theatrical designs by three Harvard-affiliated artists: Robert Edmond Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson, which are on display at the Fogg Museum.
Exhibition Context:
Robert Edmond Jones:
Lee Simonson:
The article celebrates the artistic and innovative approach of these designers, emphasizing their role in transforming theatrical design by prioritizing interpretation, symbolism, and personal expression over traditional or historical accuracy. It positions their work as a significant contribution to the evolution of American theater design.
The image depicts a newspaper clipping from the Harvard Crimson, dated October 18, 1950. The article is titled "On Exhibit" and features a subheading that reads "Designs for the Theater At Fogg Museum."
The article discusses an exhibition of theatrical designs by three Harvard men: Robert Edmond Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson. It highlights their unique approaches to scene design, emphasizing the importance of considering the play's flow of action and the qualities of the actual setting. The article also mentions the influence of Gordon Craig's "new stagecraft" and Adolphe Appia's theories of light on their work.
The clipping is presented on a gray background, with a subtle shadow effect around the edges. Overall, the image provides a glimpse into the world of theatrical design in the mid-20th century, showcasing the innovative approaches of these three talented artists.
The image is a scanned newspaper clipping from the Harvard Crimson, dated October 18, 1950. The article discusses the designs for the theater at Fogg Museum.
In summary, the image is a scanned newspaper clipping from the Harvard Crimson, dated October 18, 1950. The article discusses the designs for the theater at Fogg Museum, highlighting the work of three Harvard men: Robert Edmond Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson. The article notes that while their designs are excellent, their real work is not hanging in the galleries, but rather as physical settings on a stage.
The image depicts a newspaper clipping from the Harvard Crimson, dated October 18, 1950. The clipping is titled "On Exhibit" and features an article by Stephen O. Saxe discussing "Designs for the Theater" at the Fogg Museum.
Key Elements:
Overall Impression:
The image appears to be a scanned or photographed copy of a vintage newspaper clipping, likely from a university archive or library. The clipping provides insight into the world of theater design in the mid-20th century and highlights the contributions of three notable Harvard alumni to the field.
The image presents a vintage newspaper clipping from the Harvard Crimson, dated October 18, 1950. The clipping is titled "ON EXHIBIT" and features the subtitle "Designs for the Theater At Fogg Museum."
In summary, the image is a vintage newspaper clipping from the Harvard Crimson, dated October 18, 1950, featuring an article about an exhibit of theatrical designs by three Harvard men at the Fogg Museum. The article provides information about the artists' backgrounds and styles, as well as their work on various productions.