TRIDIM-QQ 1968

Victor Vasarely made this optical illusion, TRIDIM-QQ, with flat colors that create a sense of depth. You almost want to reach out and touch it, to see if it really is three-dimensional. The colors are so precisely placed; you can tell he was interested in how our eyes and brains work together to make sense of what we see. The paint application is smooth, without any brushstrokes, a testament to the artist's meticulous approach. Look at how each diamond shape is carefully filled in. The way the colors shift and change makes the whole form seem to pulsate. Vasarely’s work reminds me of Josef Albers, who also explored the way colors interact and affect our perception. Both artists leave us questioning the nature of reality and the tricks our senses can play on us. So, is it flat or is it deep? It's all a question of how you look at it.