The Acrobatic Rectangle, Per Eleven 1967

Alfred Jensen's "The Acrobatic Rectangle, Per Eleven" is an oil painting of stacked rectangles that recede into the canvas's center, creating an optical illusion of depth. Jensen uses contrasting colors—yellow, white, brown, and black—to delineate each rectangular form. The careful arrangement of the colors enhances the perception of recession, while the textured paint application adds a tactile dimension that complicates the geometric precision. Each color represents a sign in a semiotic system, with yellows and whites suggesting light and progression, while darker tones evoke depth and mystery. The composition challenges fixed perspectives and invites a dynamic visual experience. The structure destabilizes established meanings by creating an unstable visual field, and the interplay of color and form prompts ongoing interpretation, reflecting the artist's broader engagement with complex systems of thought and representation.