Josef Albers' "Homage to the Square (Blue/White)" is part of his famous series exploring color relationships and perception. The painting features a series of nested squares, each precisely calculated and painted in different shades of blue and white. The composition consists of three or four concentric squares, with the innermost square appearing to float within the larger ones. The careful gradation from deeper blue to lighter tones creates an optical effect of depth and dimension, despite the flat application of paint.

The geometric precision and mathematical proportions are hallmarks of Albers' work, with each square carefully positioned to create maximum visual impact. The interaction between the blue and white hues demonstrates Albers' theory that colors are influenced by their neighboring colors, causing our perception of them to shift and change depending on their context.

The work exemplifies Albers' systematic approach to exploring color theory and his interest in the psychological effects of color relationships. Through this deceptively simple format of nested squares, he creates a contemplative space that invites viewers to experience how colors can appear to advance, recede, and vibrate against one another.

Painter and poet, sculptor, and teacher Josef Albers was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century abstract art, and his theoretical work is still a cornerstone of Western approaches to art education. Albers both studied and taught at the Bauhaus before emigrating to the US in 1933, where he headed art departments first at Black Mountain College in North Carolina, then at Yale, and taught the likes of Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, Eva Hesse, and Ray Johnson. Albers’ Homage to the Square series of paintings, begun in 1950, remains his most influential work. 

Made by Christopher Farr of London.

Dimensions:  W 69"  D 69"

Materials: Millspun wool.  Hand tufted.  Produced in association with the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation.