Les Années Cinquante #1 1989

Victor Vasarely created Les Années Cinquante #1 using flat blocks of colour. I imagine him carefully masking out areas, building up the image with layers of pure pigment. The painting feels like a puzzle, a set of interlocking forms in red and blue, suspended in space. I wonder if Vasarely was thinking about architecture when he made this; there's a structural quality to the composition, like the blueprint of a building that only exists in the imagination. Look at how the red shapes curve and intersect, creating moments of tension and release. It's as if the painting is breathing, expanding and contracting before our eyes. This piece reminds me of the work of other mid-century abstractionists, who were also experimenting with geometric forms and bold colours. There’s a sense of optimism and utopianism, a belief in the power of art to transform the world. Ultimately, Les Années Cinquante #1 is a testament to the enduring power of painting to challenge our perceptions and expand our understanding of space, form, and colour.