“Color is fooling us all the time”, so said color theorist and painter extraordinaire
Josef Albers. Josef Albers (1888-1976) a German painter, who taught at the
Bauhaus, is best known for this
minimalist paintings, advances in art education and influence in the study of color theory.
Color study for Homage to the Square by Josef Albers , oil on paper, date unknown.
In September I had the pleasure of attending an exhibition of Albers’ works on paper at the
Morgan Library in New York. The show was intriguing in that it featured eighty of Albers’ works on paper. His working sketches if you will. They offered insight into his process of his signature style geometric painting.
Color study for Homage to the Square by Josef Albers , oil on paper, date unknown.
Color study for Homage to the Square by Josef Albers , oil on paper, date unknown.
Albers is best known for his abstract painting of overlapping squares featuring
color harmonies. He never mixed his colors, but rather used color directly from the tube applied carefully with a palette knife. His small scale, hard edge, symmetrical compositions were a response to the large and gestural works of the abstract expressionists and he would go on to influence movements such as minimalism and op art.
Color study for Homage to the Square by Josef Albers , oil on paper, date unknown.
From 1950 until 1976 Albers focused on his homage to the square or as he said “I am not paying “homage to the square”. It’s only the dish I serve my craziness about color in”.
Color study for Homage to the Square by Josef Albers , oil on paper, date unknown.
Indeed Albers was not crazy, but methodical in his observations on color harmonies. He noted on each piece what colors he used and what manufacturer made the paint, he annotated his use of varnish and other medium “I am not an acrobat in my painting. I am a cook”.
Josef Albers, oil on canvas, Hirschhorn Museum, date unknown.