Homage to the Square
ArtistJosef Albers
LocationTate Modern

Homage to the Square is the title of a series of paintings produced by Josef Albers between 1950 and his death in 1976. In 1971, the paintings were the subject of the first solo show devoted to a living artist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[1] There are over 1000 works within the series.[2]

Description

All of the paintings in the series show either three or four nested squares of color. The position of the interior squares is determined by a regular schema, with the margin below the square being smaller than the space above it.[3] The works range in size from 406 x 406 mm to 1.22 x 1.22 meters.[2]

Process of creation

Albers created the works under carefully controlled conditions to ensure uniformity across the series. He always painted the works on the rough side of Masonite panels. The panels were always covered with at least six coats of a white primer. Albers also controlled the lighting in the studio using fluorescent lights, which he arranged above his work table according to different patterns of light temperature. Albers used unmixed paint, directly from the tube. He applied it with his palette knife, generally beginning work on the central square and moving out toward the edge of the panel.[2]

Examples

Examples of paintings from the series include:

  • Homage to the Square: Ascending (1953), Whitney Museum[4][5]
  • Homage to the Square: Soft Spoken (1969), Metropolitan Museum of Art[4]

References

  1. ↑ Geldzahler, Henry (1971). Josef Albers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: An Exhibition of His Paintings and Prints. Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 978-0-87099-114-1.
  2. 1 2 3 "Albers, Josef". Grove Art Online. doi:10.1093/oao/9781884446054.013.90000371193. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  3. ↑ Spies, Werner (1971). Albers. Abrams. pp. 48–58. ISBN 978-0-8109-4400-8.
  4. 1 2 Roggenkamp, Shawn. "Albers, Homage to the Square". Khan Academy. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Homage to the Square: "Ascending"". Whitney Museum of American Art. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.