Gestalt 1969

Victor Vasarely made this geometric painting, playing with warm and cool colours to create an illusion. I can almost see him there, teasing the eye, layering the golden hues over a deep shadowy ground. You know, painting is so much about decisions. Is that ochre warm enough? How does the blue vibrate against it? I imagine Vasarely meticulously plotting each diamond, each line, searching for the right balance. There’s a joy in that process, figuring out how to make a flat surface seem like it’s popping out at you. It reminds me of other artists pushing boundaries, like Josef Albers with his colour squares, or Bridget Riley’s dizzying patterns. This piece feels like part of that conversation, with artists exploring the power of perception. It shows the possibilities of painting, doesn’t it? The way it can trick us, engage us, and keep us questioning what we see.