Sinvilag A 1974 - 1987

Victor Vasarely made 'Sinvilag A', sometime in the mid-twentieth century, with paint applied in what seems a very methodical way. This piece suggests to me that the act of artmaking is as much about planning and process as it is about spontaneous expression. Looking closely, you’ll see that the texture of the paint is smooth, almost like it's been printed. The colors - red, blue, and white - create a vibrant, pulsating effect; these colors feel very mid-century to me, and make me think of the American flag. Each tiny red square seems to float against the blue, shifting and shimmering, creating a sense of movement that almost feels like a screen. Vasarely’s work reminds me a little of Bridget Riley, another artist who loved to play with perception. But where Riley's work feels organic, Vasarely's has a machine-made quality to it. Ultimately, what I love about art like this is the way it challenges our eyes and our expectations, showing us that seeing isn't always believing.