Oval 1970 - 1988

This painting is by Victor Vasarely, but the date is unknown. Vasarely was interested in how art could engage a broad audience. In post-war Europe, artists sought to democratize the experience of art, often by using abstract geometrical forms. ‘Oval’ creates a sense of visual vibration through the use of colorful circles on a grid. The colors create a moiré effect, suggesting movement on a static surface. Vasarely’s painting engages the question of perception, which was also explored by scientists and philosophers. In this way, art could be seen as a form of research. Some critics have seen Vasarely's artistic project as aligned with the increasing influence of technology in modern life. Art historians use many tools to situate a work in its context, like journals, letters, exhibition catalogues, and publications by the artist, to better understand the historical and institutional forces at play.