1968
Widely considered the grandfather of Op art, the French-Hungarian painter Victor Vasarely (1906–97) created eye-popping geometric abstractions that play with the viewer’s perception of depth, perspective and motion. A classic example is the 1937 Zebra, which consists of undulating black and white stripes that suggest the form of the titular animal through optical trickery. The work is often credited as the earliest Op art painting.
Such illusions were more than pleasing tricks for Vasarely, who insisted that “pure form and pure color can signify the world.” He wanted to “democratize” art by producing works in large editions at reasonable prices that were understandable across national and cultural boundaries. In the 1960s, he developed an alphabet plastique, or fine art alphabet, consisting of elementary visual building blocks that could be used in endless combinations to create original compositions. By employing this universal visual vocabulary and stripping away topical references, he sought to create what he called a “Planetary Folklore.”
Embodying Vasarely’s singular belief that art should serve a social function, accessible to all, these innovations may perhaps be his greatest contribution to 20th-century art.
Find a collection of Victor Vasarely prints, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
Song
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Victor Vasarely Song, 1970 is a painted wood relief that is hand-signed by Victor Vasarely (Hungary, 1906 – France, 1997) on verso. Numbered from the edition of 55 on verso.
Wood, Paint
Untitled
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Combining patterns reminiscent of tessellation and a large grid-like system, Vasarely turns a plain hexagon into a concave surface. Shades of light and dark play across the 'facets' ...
Wood, Acrylic
Untitled Relief
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Vasarely's skill in creating a sense of the three-dimensional through the use of visual effects is apparent in this work with a combination of recessed and protruding geometrical shapes. Bold black, white, and blue hues accentuate the feeling of volume and space apparent in this marvelous relief. The geometric shapes of circles, squares, and diamonds guide our eye throughout the composition, encouraging us to explore the three dimensional optical effect before us. The total effect of this play on color and shape is visually stunning and impressive in the amount of thought and skill put into the arrangement of design elements. This porcelain Rosenthal relief...
Porcelain
Untitled Relief
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Victor Vasarely Untitled Relief, 1973 is a Studio Line Rosenthal Porcelain relief with aluminum that is hand-signed by Victor Vasarely (Hungary, 1906 – France, 1997) on verso. Number...
Porcelain
Untitled
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
Victor Vasarely Untitled Acrylic on wood 27 x 15 in Ed. EA
Wood, Acrylic
Victor Vasarely sculpture: Ter-A
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
Victor Vasarely Ter-A Acrylic on wood Ed. 13 of 100 18 x 10 x 2 in
Wood, Acrylic
Optisk komposition
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Victor Vasarely Optisk komposition, 1970 is a Studio Line Rosenthal Porcelain relief with aluminum and is hand-signed by Victor Vasarely (Hungary, 1906 – France, 1997) on verso. Numb...
Porcelain, Glaze
Iboya, NBC 35
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
The Hungarian word, Iboya, meaning a small forest violet, has been chosen by Vasarely to identify his astonishing series of vertical sculptures for intereior use. The Iboya consist ...
Polystyrene, Wood
Untitled
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Victor Vasarely Untitled, c. 1970-79 is a glazed porcelain multiple that is hand-signed by Victor Vasarely (Hungary, 1906 – France, 1997) and is numbered from the edition of 50 on ve...
Porcelain
Iboya, NBC 36
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
The Hungarian word, Iboya, meaning a small forest violet, has been chosen by Vasarely to identify his astonishing series of vertical sculptures for intereior use. The Iboya consist ...
Polystyrene, Wood
