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Josef Albers — Study for a Homage to the Squarevariously
Josef Albers

Study for a Homage to the Squarevariously

1968

This geometric abstraction presents a series of nested squares in graduated shades of green and blue, creating a meditative study in color relationships and spatial perception. The composition moves from a bright kelly green outer frame through darker forest green tones to luminous blue squares at the center, demonstrating the artist's investigation into how adjacent colors interact and influence one another visually. The work is executed on blotting paper using oil and graphite, materials that create subtle textural variations within the precisely defined color fields. The visible edges and slight irregularities of the paper ground add an intimate, handcrafted quality to this otherwise rigorously systematic composition.

Medium
oil and graphite on blotting paper
Overall
Location
Sotheby's, New York, NY

Notes

Contemporary Day Auction, Sotheby's, sale on 2026-05-15.

🔨 Auction Lot

Contemporary Day Auction

May 15, 2026

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About this work

Josef Albers, Study for a Homage to the Squarevariously, 1968

This geometric abstraction presents a series of nested squares in graduated shades of green and blue, creating a meditative study in color relationships and spatial perception. The composition moves from a bright kelly green outer frame through darker forest green tones to luminous blue squares at the center, demonstrating the artist's investigation into how adjacent colors interact and influence one another visually. The work is executed on blotting paper using oil and graphite, materials that create subtle textural variations within the precisely defined color fields. The visible edges and slight irregularities of the paper ground add an intimate, handcrafted quality to this otherwise rigorously systematic composition.

Medium
oil and graphite on blotting paper
Dimensions
overall: 13.3 x 30.8 cm
Year
1968
Seen at
Sotheby's, New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris

Related themes

Modern Art Study, 1960s Art, Monumental Simplicity, Color Studies, Oil And Graphite, Layered Colors, Perception Art, Op Art, Square Composition, Visual Harmony, Constructivism, Color Field, Color Theory, Systematic Abstraction, Minimalist Art, Optical Illusion, Abstract Geometric, Nested Squares

More works by Josef Albers

Collected by

Alex Capecelatro