The Op art movement emerged in the 1960s, mirroring the counterculture of the time in its embrace of visual trickery, graphic shapes and bright colors.
Spreading across Europe and the Americas, the style — whose name is short for “optical art” — influenced advertising, fashion and interior design before fading in the early ’70s.
Op art remained significant, however, for artists and scientists interested in the nature of perception. And today, it’s seeing a resurgence of interest from collectors and interior designers.
Op artists played with the principles of perception, manipulating line, shape, patterns and color to create the illusion of depth and movement. They drew on and evolved methods developed by past movements, from Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism, to produce intense visual experiences.
All the Op artists shared a focus on the gap between what is and what we perceive. Each, however, had a distinct approach to the issue and a unique visual style.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Op art that includes works by Josef Albers, Bridget Riley, Jesús Rafael Soto and more.
$9,000
Bottle with Lemon in the Darkness, Signed Op Art Mezzotint by Yozo Hamaguchi
Located in Long Island City, NY
Bottle with Lemon in the Darkness by Yozo Hamaguchi, (1909 - 2000) Date: 1989 Medium: Mezzotint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 144/180 Size: 24.63 in. x 18.75 in. (62.55 cm ...
Mezzotint
Twenty-Two Cherries (Yellow), Signed Op Art Mezzotint by Yozo Hamaguchi
Located in Long Island City, NY
Twenty-Two Cherries (Yellow) by Yozo Hamaguchi, (1909 - 2000) Date: 1990 Medium: Mezzotint, signed in pencil Edition: HC Image Size: 21.5 x 9.38 inches Frame Size: 35 x 21.5 inches
Mezzotint
Silver Fan - contemporary zero art by Heinz Mack, silver minimalist op art
By Heinz Mack
Located in Schierensee, SH
"Silberfächer - Silver Fan" is an original Seriograph by renowned zero artist Hans Mack. The work depicts in a silver gelatin print a silver fan. Originally signed and numbered. 1...
Silver Gelatin
$775
H 15.75 in W 9.5 in
Spider Lily: An Original 18th C. Hand-colored Botanical Engraving by J. Weinmann
Located in Alamo, CA
This colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving finished with hand coloring by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled "A. Ephemerum Virginianu flore Purpureo, B. Ephemer...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$875
H 15.5 in W 9.75 in
Banana Plant: An 18th Century Hand-colored Botanical Engraving by J. Weinmann
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of banana plants, which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Banana 2. Mauze, Baradis-feigen", p...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$4,250
H 40 in W 40 in
"Butterfly Monarch #4" Print on Canvas 40x40 in Ed. of 75 by Mick Fleetwood
Located in Culver City, CA
"Butterfly Monarch #4" Print on Canvas 40x40 in Ed. of 75 by Mick Fleetwood Digital print on canvas Not framed Mick Fleetwood, the legendary drummer and founding member of Fleetwo...
Canvas, Digital
$4,250
H 40 in W 40 in
"Butterfly Monarch #1" Print on Canvas 40x40 in Ed. of 75 by Mick Fleetwood
Located in Culver City, CA
"Butterfly Monarch #1" Print on Canvas 40x40 in Ed. of 75 by Mick Fleetwood Digital print on canvas Not framed Mick Fleetwood, the legendary drummer and founding member of Fleetwo...
Canvas, Digital
$525
H 17 in W 10.25 in
Flowering Dragonmouth: 18th Century Hand-colored Weinmann Botanical Engraving
Located in Alamo, CA
An 18th century hand colored botanical engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) depicting the following flowering sage plants:...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$875
H 15.25 in W 9.75 in
Flowering Digitalis Plant: 18th C. Hand-colored Botanical Engraving by Weinmann
Located in Alamo, CA
This hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled "Digitalis rubra floribus albis maculatis. Digitalis angustifolia flore fe...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$675
H 15.25 in W 9.88 in
Flowering Burning Bush: 18th Century Hand-colored Weinmann Botanical Engraving
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of flowering Gas Plants or Burning Bush and Fraxinella, which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitle...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$675
H 15.25 in W 9.75 in
Red Geranium: An 18th Century Hand-colored Botanical Engraving by J. Weinmann
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of flowering Red Geraniums which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Geranium Anemones folio Af...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$475
H 17 in W 10.25 in
Flowering Livid Amaranth: 18th Century Hand-colored Weinmann Botanical Engraving
Located in Alamo, CA
An 18th century color printed in addition to hand colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) depicting the following flowering amaranthus p...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$875
H 15.63 in W 9.5 in
Flowering Sweet William Plant: 18th C. Hand-colored Weinmann Botanical Engraving
Located in Alamo, CA
This hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled "a. Caryophyllus Arborescens, b. Caryophyllus Barbatus". It is plate 327 i...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$675
H 15.75 in W 9.63 in
Hollyhock Plant: An 18th Century Hand-colored Botanical Engraving by J. Weinmann
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741), entitled "A. Alcea Folio Lacinato, B. Alcea Vesicaria, C. Alchimilla minima, D. ...
Engraving, Mezzotint
$675
H 15.75 in W 9.63 in
Flowering Pea Plant: An 18th C. Hand-colored Botanical Engraving by J. Weinmann
Located in Alamo, CA
This hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled "A. Lathyrus Major Peremis Richern B. Lathyrus Narbonensis Flore Albescen...
Engraving, Mezzotint
Chessboard, Framed Screenprint by Vasarely 1975
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Victor Vasarely, Hungarian (1908 - 1997) Title: Chessboard Year: 1975 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 216/300 Image Size: 27 x 27 inches Size: 31.5 ...
Screen