Komposition mit Farbquadraten 1973

This 'Komposition mit Farbquadraten' is by Verena Loewensberg, who used what appear to be simple means to create it. At first glance, the composition looks like it’s made of a scattering of square pixels. Look closer and you'll see that each square is a distinct field of color, neatly printed onto the white surface. The visual order depends on these precisely placed units. In its way, this artwork is as much a feat of craft as any traditional painting. In this image, Loewensberg is actively engaging with the historical dialogue between fine art and the applied arts, between the crafted and the industrial, and between the hand and the machine. The pixelated aesthetic points towards the rise of digital technologies. It is the kind of art that suggests a future-oriented mindset and social organization, emphasizing the importance of each individual component. The materials, making, and context are all important to understanding Loewensberg's 'Komposition mit Farbquadraten', which challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.