Archives Scrapbooks

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

Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806704

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

This image shows a newspaper clipping from a publication titled "Mandarin" dated December 1979. The article is titled "Fine Arts Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside" and is written by Carla Hall. The article discusses the controversy surrounding the teaching of modern art at Harvard University's Fine Arts Department. It highlights the departure of a professor and the subsequent challenges in finding a replacement in the field of modern art. The text quotes various individuals involved in the department, including John Rosenfield, the chairman of the Fine Arts Department, and graduate students like Susan Siegfried, who share their perspectives on the situation. The article also touches on the tenure system's impact on hiring and the department's priorities between undergraduate and graduate education.

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

This image shows a newspaper article titled "Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside" written by Carla Hall. The article discusses the controversy within Harvard's Fine Arts Department regarding the lack of tenured faculty experts in modern art. The article mentions John Rosenfield, the chairman of the department, who explains the challenges of finding a suitable candidate for a tenured position in modern art. It also includes comments from other faculty members and students about the situation. The text is laid out in three columns and is printed on aged paper. There is a note at the bottom indicating that the article continues on page 14. The newspaper appears to be folded at the top left corner, revealing part of another page with the word "MANDARIN" and some other text.

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

This image displays a close-up photograph of a yellowed, folded newspaper article, resting on a plain gray surface. Another newspaper page, likely from the same issue, is partially visible, folded and tucked underneath at the top left corner, showing the masthead “ROYAL MANDARIN” in bold lettering along with some Chinese characters.

The main article, clearly the focus of the image, is titled in large, bold, uppercase letters:

“Arts Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside”

It is authored by CARLA HALL, as indicated beneath the headline.

The article is a multi-column report discussing the controversy surrounding the Fine Arts Department at Harvard University in the context of modern art. The text details the department’s struggle to fill a tenured position for a modern art specialist following the departure of Professor Michael Fried. The article explores the department's reluctance or inability to establish a dedicated modern art faculty, despite student interest and faculty debate.

Key points covered in the article include:

  • Quotes from John Rosenfield, chairman of the department, who acknowledges the “controversial” nature of modern art and the department’s difficulty in finding a suitable, tenured scholar.
  • Disagreements among faculty, with Oleg Grabar arguing that modern art can be taught by applying general art historical methods, even without a specialist.
  • Concerns from students and scholars like Alix Murdoch and Susan Siegfried about the lack of advising and continuity for graduate students studying modern art.
  • A section titled “Why Fried Fled” that explains Professor Michael Fried left Harvard for Johns Hopkins University, partly because he was not being considered for tenure, which he felt was an indication he was “hated” by department members.

The article concludes by noting that the full tenuring procedure at Harvard requires scrutiny by an ad hoc committee chosen by President Bok, and the piece continues on page 14.

The physical state of the paper — its yellowed color, folded creases, and slightly worn edges — suggests it is an archival or historical document. The overall tone of the article is investigative and critical, highlighting the institutional challenges and philosophical disagreements within a prestigious university regarding the teaching of contemporary art.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image is a photograph of a newspaper clipping featuring an article titled "US Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside" by Carla Hall. The article discusses the challenges faced by the Fine Arts Department at Harvard University in maintaining a robust modern art program following the departure of Michael Fried, a former professor and tenured expert in modern art.

The article highlights the department's struggle to find a suitable replacement for Fried, who left Harvard this fall. The department chair, John Rosenfield, acknowledges the contentious nature of modern art, stating that "The field of modern art is inherently controversial. People will always disagree about who's good in it." With Fried's departure, the department faces a significant void in modern art expertise.

The article quotes various perspectives on the issue. Oleg Grabar, a head tutor, believes that techniques of analysis taught in modern art history courses should be applicable to other fields like Islamic art. He suggests that modern art does not necessarily require a dedicated course but can be integrated into broader art studies.

However, the article also presents the viewpoint of graduate students, who express concern about the impact of Fried's departure on their education. Susan Shanus, a junior in Fine Arts, notes the problem of continuity in studying with a particular faculty member, emphasizing the indefinite nature of graduate studies and the potential for delays if a suitable mentor is not found.

The article further explores the department's approach to addressing the shortage of modern art expertise. While there is an expressed need for someone new in the field, either tenured or not, the department currently relies on non-tenured lecturers or professors whose primary field is not modern art to teach modern art courses. This situation has led to overcrowded modern art tutorials and a lack of advisors for graduate students writing theses and preparing for generals.

The department chair, Rosenfield, acknowledges the difficulties but argues that Harvard has an obligation to cover all basic areas within academic fields, including nineteenth and twentieth-century art. However, Grabar disagrees, suggesting that Harvard should develop fields it is best equipped to handle rather than attempting to cover all fields.

The article also delves into the reasons behind Fried's departure. While some speculate that he left due to conflicts with department members, Susan Siegfried, a graduate student, suggests that he chose to leave before the tenure mechanism went into effect. Fried accepted a tenured appointment at Johns Hopkins University, where the Fine Arts Department was considering recommending him for a tenured position.

The full-tenure procedure at Harvard includes a committee scrutiny by an ad hoc candidate chosen by President Bok. The article concludes by noting that the challenges faced by the department in maintaining a strong modern art program are ongoing, with implications for both undergraduate and graduate education.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image is a page from a newspaper or magazine with an article titled "Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside." The article discusses the challenges faced by Harvard's Fine Arts Department in finding and recruiting a tenured expert in modern art, particularly in light of the departure of former professor Michael Fried. The article highlights the department's reluctance to specialize in modern art, arguing that Harvard's resources are better allocated to other fields. It also touches on the difficulties faced by graduate students due to the lack of continuity in faculty and the challenges of finding tenured positions in the field. The article features quotes from department chairman John Rosenfield and graduate student Susan Siegfried, among others. The page also includes a continuation notice at the bottom, indicating that the article continues on page 14.

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

The image shows a page from a newspaper or magazine featuring an article titled "Arts Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside" by Carla Hall. The article discusses the challenges and controversies surrounding the field of modern art, particularly at Harvard University. Here is a detailed description of the content and visual elements:

Visual Elements:

  1. Title and Byline:

    • The headline is prominently displayed at the top: "Arts Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside".
    • The byline reads: "By CARLA HALL", indicating the author of the article.
  2. Text Layout:

    • The article is formatted in a typical newspaper style, with justified text and clear paragraph breaks.
    • The text is printed in a serif font, suggesting a formal or academic tone.
    • The page appears to be part of a larger publication, as indicated by the visible page number "14" at the bottom right corner.
  3. Partial Overlap:

    • In the top-left corner, there is a partial overlay of another document or photograph. This overlay includes the word "MANDALAY" and some other text and markings, which seem unrelated to the article itself. This suggests that the image may have been scanned or photographed alongside other materials.
  4. Content Focus:

    • The article discusses the tension between modern art and traditional academic structures, particularly at Harvard.
    • Key themes include:
      • Controversy in Modern Art: The article notes that modern art is inherently controversial, and opinions on what constitutes good art vary widely.
      • Harvard’s Stance: Harvard is criticized for shying away from granting tenure to modern art specialists, despite the field's growing importance.
      • Challenges in Hiring: The article highlights the difficulty in finding qualified candidates who are both experts in modern art and compatible with the department's existing faculty.
      • Graduate Education: There is a discussion about the challenges faced by graduate students in modern art, including the lack of tenure-track positions and the difficulty in finding mentors.
      • Department Priorities: The article explores the department's focus on traditional art forms (e.g., Islamic art, nineteenth and twentieth-century painting and sculpture) and the resulting neglect of modern art.
  5. Quotes and Opinions:

    • The article includes quotes from various individuals, such as:
      • John Rosenfeld, chairman of Harvard’s Fine Arts Department, who acknowledges the difficulty in hiring modern art specialists.
      • Oleg Grabar, a head tutor, who defends Harvard’s decision to prioritize traditional fields.
      • Susan Siegfried, a graduate student, who discusses the challenges faced by graduate students in modern art.
  6. Discussion of Tenure:

    • The article touches on the tenure system and its impact on hiring practices, particularly the departure of Michael Fried, a noted scholar in modern art, from Harvard.

Overall Impression:

The image captures a thought-provoking article that delves into the academic and institutional challenges of integrating modern art into traditional university departments. The overlay of another document in the top-left corner adds an element of visual complexity, suggesting that the image may have been part of a larger collection or archive. The article itself is well-structured, with clear headings, quotes, and a focus on key issues in the field of modern art and academic hiring practices.

OpenAI, gpt-4

The image shows a newspaper article with the headline "FAS Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside" by Carla Hall. The article appears to be discussing various viewpoints regarding the approach to modern art within an academic department. The piece of paper containing the article is shown at an angle, with the top part slightly folded over, revealing part of another page beneath it.

The article itself mentions individuals such as John Rosenfield, Michael Fried, and a Harvard associate professor, discussing differing opinions on the importance and handling of modern art in a curriculum. It describes tensions about the future direction of the department and challenges in hiring faculty who align with certain philosophical and academic priorities.

The text at the top right corner, part of another folded article or a caption, mentions Harvard University and speaks of the challenges graduate students face in the field of modern art.

Some words and phrases are clearly visible, such as "finding and recruiting a person for a tenured position," and "Harvard has shied away from modern art." There is reference to challenges involved in maintaining scholarly rigor and balancing tradition with new developments in modern art.

On the right edge of the image, you can see some highlighted or underlined text, which suggests that a reader found these parts of the article particularly important or worth noting.

Below the main article's title, in smaller text, is an additional title: "Brushes Modernists Aside." This implies that the article is probably discussing a shift within the department or institution away from modern art or modernist perspectives.

Please note that this explanation only pertains to the visible content, and without the continuation of the text on the rest of the page or the following pages, it's not possible to provide a complete analysis of the article's full content.

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

The image depicts an old newspaper clipping titled "Harvard's Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside," written by Carla Hall. The article discusses the controversy surrounding the modern art field at Harvard's Fine Arts Department, particularly focusing on the challenges and attitudes towards modern art and modernist faculty members.

Key points from the article include:

  • John Rosenfield, chairman of Harvard’s Fine Arts Department, explains the department lacks a tenured expert in the area of modern art and is trying to address this.
  • The department is described as leaning away from modern art, which causes tension.
  • There is difficulty in finding and recruiting suitable faculty members who specialize in modern art due to limited availability and institutional priorities.
  • Harvard faces challenges balancing traditional academic fields with modern art, which correctively should cover 19th and 20th-century art.
  • Graduate students face difficulties with inadequate faculty guidance and mentorship, especially in modern art fields.
  • The department's structure and priorities limit the inclusion of modern art, causing dissatisfaction.
  • Susan Siegfried and Sarene Shanus, graduate students in Fine Arts, comment on the issues related to advising and continuity for graduate students.
  • Michael Fried, a likely tenure candidate who taught at Harvard, left too soon partly due to departmental issues.
  • The article hints at strong institutional resistance to including modernist perspectives more prominently.

An inset at the top left corner references "Royal Mandarin," but its relevance to the article is unclear from the image. The article is visually aged, printed on yellowed newspaper, and partially torn or folded in some areas.

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

This image is a newspaper article discussing a controversy in Harvard University's Fine Arts Department about modern art. It is written by Carla Hall and titled “Arts Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside.” The text explains the department chair, John Rosenfield’s, viewpoint regarding the departure of Michael Fried, a professor of modern art, and the department's stance on modern art education.

The article talks about the challenges in maintaining tenure for modern art professors, recruiting suitable candidates, and the broader outlook on modernism in academia. Opinions from various students, faculty, and scholars are included, highlighting differing perspectives on whether modern art is sufficiently covered at Harvard or if it should be left to other institutions with stronger modernism collections.

The article delves into issues of curriculum, the effects on undergraduate and graduate students, and the university’s responsibility to represent modern art within its academic offerings. Additionally, it mentions the case of Michael Fried, who left Harvard, and the debate around tenure policies favoring conservative traditions.

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

  • A collage of old newspaper clippings laid on a gray surface.
  • The largest piece has a bold headline: “Arts Dept. Brushes Modernists Aside” with a byline “By CARLA HALL.”
  • The text appears to be a two-column article about controversy in modern art and Harvard’s Fine Arts Department, mentioning people like Michael Fried and Oleg Grabar.
  • The clipping is yellowed and cut with rough, torn edges, and there’s a note at the bottom “Continued on page 14.”
  • There are additional smaller clipped pieces partially visible around it, contributing to a layered, vintage newspaper look.