COBOL 1969

This poster, COBOL, by Dietmar Winkler is made of geometric shapes, probably printed, to advertise a computer course. Look at the way the blue and red overlap. That overlay of color reminds me that making art is often like coding – a process of layering and combining different elements to create something new. The texture here is smooth and flat, with clean edges, which makes me think about the precision involved in both graphic design and computer programming. My eye is drawn to the way the letterforms are constructed from these basic shapes. See how a semi-circle can become part of a 'C' or an 'O'? The color palette is so limited – just red, blue, and the dark ground of the paper – yet it feels complete. This work reminds me a bit of Josef Albers' color studies, where he explored the interactions between different hues. Just like Albers, Winkler seems interested in the ways that simple forms and colors can create complex visual effects. What do you see?