J osef Albers’ Study for Homage to the Square: Passing By, 1963 is an example of not only one of the artist’s most notable series but also one of the most recognizable images of Twentieth century art. This series, despite its title, is primarily focused on color, rather than shape. He considered the composition of squares, in which the placement on the canvas remained consistent throughout all the works in the series, to primarily operate as “platters to serve color” (Josef Albers cited in: Nicholas Fox Weber, ‘Josef Albers’, in: Getulio Alviani, Ed., Josef Albers, Milan 1988, p. 10). Albers began Homage to the Square in 1950 and devotedly executed 2,000 works in the series in the two decades leading up to his passing in 1976.
Each color is placed in direct contact with the next, creating a heightened chromatic effect intensifying the properties of the differing shades. To further increase these effects, Albers replaced the traditional canvas medium with the rough side of Masonite, preferring its raw texture. He often applied paint directly from the tube, producing a sense of freshness and immediacy. He meticulously applied the paint with a palette knife to create a uniform surface, allowing the viewer to become completely absorbed in the effects of the colors as they respond to one another. The contrasting pigments create a sense of depth and perspective in an otherwise flat pictorial plane. In the present work, we see a superb example from the series with an interplay of a vibrant teal with a rich slate and deep ochre.
Albers’ revolutionary techniques cement him as one of the most influential artists of the Twentieth century. Not only his work but also his teaching philosophy served as an influence on many important post-war artists. As a leading figure at Black Mountain college, Albers taught the likes of Kenneth Noland, Cy Twombly and Robert Rauschenberg. While teaching at Yale, Eva Hesse and Richard Serra were students. Even stretching to the minimalist works of Donald Judd, the thread of Albers’ impact is woven through fabric of post-war American art.
