Structural Constellation 1952

Josef Albers created this Structural Constellation, likely with ink or thin paint on paper, exploring the process of seeing through lines and shapes. The black and white create a crisp contrast, making the geometric forms pop. It’s like Albers is playing with the idea of how little information we need to perceive depth and structure. The lines are so precise, like he’s trying to define space itself. It reminds me of Sol LeWitt’s wall drawings, but with a more tactile, hand-done feel. Look at how some shapes seem to float forward while others recede, all with just a few carefully placed lines. This piece is a quiet conversation about how we build our understanding of the world, piece by piece, line by line. This interest in the construction of seeing links him to the concerns of the Bauhaus.