Abstract 1940

This abstract work by Josef Albers is made with oil on paper. At first glance, the geometric forms and limited color palette might seem simple, but there's a depth to the process here that I find fascinating. Look at the surface: the paint is laid down in these deliberate strokes, each one a testament to the artist's hand. The edges of the forms are not perfectly crisp, but instead, have a kind of shimmering energy. Notice the texture within the darker blue ground, it almost feels like the push and pull of waves. The way the maroon interacts with the peach, each color seems to vibrate against the other. It's in these small moments of interaction that the painting really comes alive. You see a similar approach in the work of someone like Agnes Martin, where the apparent simplicity belies a complex engagement with color and form. Ultimately, this piece is a testament to the endless possibilities of abstraction.