It was an incredibly hot summer day, and I was sitting in a concrete room. It was my very first day in color theory, when I saw this image. I chose this image, a painting by Josef Albers, due to the fact that it changed my life. If you have very had an “AhHa !” moment this was mine. As a painter, I respect color above all else. If I were to define this image, I would say that this 21.7 inch square painting that displays four colored squares placed inside one another in order to explain the relationship of hue, value, and intensity. The hue of the outer square is yellow. However, it’s important to note that it’s not just yellow but yellow that leans towards blue. All color is not pure. Any certain hue will lean towards a primary. The hue of the inner square is blue, a blue that leans toward yellow. A blue that leans towards yellow and a yellow that leans towards blue are already set up to love each other. These two squares that never touch each other are equivalent in value. However they are only equivalent in value due to the influence of the other hues around them. Removing the relationship would change their interaction. The intensity of the second square is only elevated due to the relationship of the less intense colors around it. Think for a moment how different these colors would be if they were on a red background. The red would pull all of the green with in these colors to the surface and would change all of the relationships. Color is such an amazing tool that is so easily manipulated. This image is 21.7 inches of why I am a big art loser.
Josef Albers, Homage to the Square: Edition Keller IC, 1970.
Screen Print
Of an edition of 125
Height: 21.7 inches
Width: 21.7 inches
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By: Skye
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