Gestalt 1969

Victor Vasarely made this painting titled, Gestalt, using geometric forms and a careful balance of warm and cool colors. I love seeing how artists use simple shapes to create something that messes with your mind a little. It reminds me that making art can be like solving a puzzle. The surface is super smooth and the colors are laid down in a way that feels precise, which makes me think he might have used stencils or masking techniques to get those clean lines. The illusion of depth is all in how those little diamonds shift in color and value. Look at the top right corner and how the tan section seems to come forward, but then the blue lines pull you back. It’s a real push and pull. Vasarely was really into this idea of art as something that could change how you see the world. You can also see these ideas in the work of Bridget Riley, who also embraced abstraction and visual perception. It’s all about opening up new ways of experiencing space and form, which is pretty cool, right?