Tlinko II 1956 - 1959

Victor Vasarely made this striking image, Tlinko II, with screen printing. It's a process that allows for the precise reproduction of designs, and was eagerly adopted by artists interested in the aesthetics of industrial production. Vasarely was fascinated by how simple geometric forms could create illusions of depth and movement. Look closely, and you’ll see how the arrangement of black squares on a white grid seems to shift and undulate. This play with perception is key to understanding the work. The image seems almost to vibrate before your eyes. Screen printing is significant here, because it allowed Vasarely to explore these optical effects with incredible accuracy. It also implies seriality, perhaps even mass production, even if each print was made by hand. This hints at the wider social context of Op Art, which aimed to democratize art, making it accessible and engaging for a broad audience. It dissolves boundaries between art, design, and industrial production.