Ascension 1942

Josef Albers made this geometric screenprint, called "Ascension," on paper sometime in the mid-twentieth century. Right away, you notice the stark black lines against the white, a kind of visual puzzle that invites you to untangle it. The cool thing about prints, especially something like this, is how Albers embraces the process. It’s all about the precision and repetition that printmaking allows. Each line feels deliberate, part of a larger conversation about space and form. Notice how the lines create the illusion of depth, almost like a staircase leading somewhere undefined. It’s in these details that Albers’ genius shines through, making you question what you see and how you see it. It reminds me a bit of Sol LeWitt's wall drawings, in the sense of instructions, but Albers brings a warmth and a sense of play that’s uniquely his. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be about grand statements; sometimes, it's about the joy of exploration and the beauty of simplicity.