CTA 102 #8 1966

Victor Vasarely made this, CTA 102 #8, with paint, probably acrylic. He explores flat color relationships, blue and green. I wonder about the making. Did he have assistants, or did he paint this himself? Did he use tape to get the hard edges, or was it all by hand? It's so systematic. I imagine him trying to find a set of rules or a system that he could then push to its limit. This piece relates to a whole history of geometric abstraction, from Josef Albers to Bridget Riley. You know, artists are always in conversation. The painting makes me think of a puzzle or a code. I like how the circles both create a pattern and seem to vibrate against the background. Ultimately, paintings are about seeing, and Vasarely offers us a new way of experiencing space and color.