Square with Principle "Z" 1968 - 1969

Here we have Jan Kubicek's "Square with Principle 'Z'," an intriguing piece where process is everything. It feels like a diagram, or maybe a stage set, but I think it’s all about how things are made. The colors are stark – a rich black, a vibrant teal, and creamy white – creating a high-contrast environment. The areas of color are solid, with little to no tonal variation. There's a precision here, and the lines are so clean you can almost feel the edge of the printing screen. My eyes are drawn to where the teal and black meet, bisecting the square. The lines here are super sharp, but not perfect. There is a slight waver which reveals the human hand. I am reminded of Sol Lewitt's wall drawings, which are similarly concerned with the nature of process and the relationship between idea and execution. Ultimately the piece invites us to think about the role of chance and intention in the act of creation.