Josef Albers – Homage to the Square, 1970 – Screen-print

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Sheet 9 from the 10 portfolio "Homage to the Square” - Color screeprint on wove paper - Signed, Numbered and Dated - Published by Josef Keller Verlag, Starnberg. - Printed by Herbert Geier, Ingolstadt. - Catalogue raisonné: Danilowitz, no. 203.9.

Josef Albers' Homage to the Square (1970) is a screenprint from the iconic series that explores the interplay of color and form. This particular print, measuring 21 x 21 inches, features a series of nested squares in varying shades of black and gray, creating a sense of depth and subtle contrast. The precision and simplicity of the composition highlight Albers' interest in how colors interact and the optical effects that arise from their placement. The gradation of tones invites viewers to experience shifts in perception, as the overlapping squares appear to fluctuate in size and intensity. This work exemplifies Albers' ongoing investigation into the relationships between form, color, and perception, embodying his minimalist approach and rigorous geometric exploration.

Josef Albers (Germany/USA, 1888–1976) was a groundbreaking artist, designer, and educator central to the Bauhaus movement and modern art. Known for his Homage to the Square series, he explored color theory and perception. Albers’ teachings and writings, like Interaction of Color, have profoundly influenced contemporary art and design education.

Josef Albers

Homage to the Square, 1970

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Screen-print

Screen-printScreen printing is a technique where ink is transferred through a mesh onto a substrate, with areas blocked by a stencil to prevent ink from passing through. This method, also known as serigraphy or silkscreen printing, is commonly used to produce prints on posters, T-shirts, vinyl, stickers, wood, and other materials. The process is a type of stencil printing, allowing for vibrant, detailed designs on various surfaces.

Edition

Edition of 125

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Limited Edition Print

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Abstraction is real, probably more real than nature.
- Josef Albers

Often cited as one of the founders of minimalist and conceptual art, Josef Albers is widely acclaimed for his theoretical teachings on art and his interplay between shape and colour. Among his most recognised works, Homage to the Square is a series which spanned across the 50’s and the 60’s, and features a range of rigid, geometric productions applied to canvas, all of which were offset by whichever colour palette he had chosen to adopt – the combination of the geometry and colour creates various optical effects, for which Albers has become renowned. Albers has stated ‘abstraction is real, probably more real than nature’ - his work is an attempt to portray this philosophy, and he challenges the viewer to analyse their own perspective with each piece; Structural Constellations is perhaps is most celebrated work of this kind, a subtle piece composed of simple lines that combine to create illusory forms. (Artist website)

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What is minimalism?

Minimalism is a style in music and visual arts characterized by pared-down designs and simplicity. It began in Western art after World War II, gaining prominence particularly in American visual arts. Minimalism draws heavily on aspects of modernism and is often viewed as a reaction against Abstract Expressionism, as well as a precursor to post-minimal art practices. Prominent minimalist artists include Agnes Martin, Donald Judd, Robert Morris, Frank Stella, and Dan Flavin.

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Josef Albers

Homage to the Square, 1970

53.3 x 53.3 cm

Language & Currency

Josef Albers