ME 438 1940

Hans Hinterreiter made this artwork, ME 438, in 1940, using, it seems, fairly simple means. The geometric shapes feel almost screen-printed, with flat, unmodulated blocks of color. This makes me think about artmaking as a process of arranging and layering. There’s something so satisfying about the limited palette here – the red, black, white, and gray working together to create an almost hypnotic effect. Notice how the red diamonds pop against the black and white, drawing your eye into the center of the composition. I'm fascinated by how the shapes intersect and overlap, creating a sense of depth and movement on an otherwise flat surface. It's like Hinterreiter is playing with our perception, inviting us to see the world in new ways. Thinking about other artists, Sol Lewitt comes to mind, who also used geometric forms to create complex and engaging artworks. It’s a conversation across time, where artists build upon each other's ideas, challenging and expanding our understanding of what art can be.