Impossibles - Josef Albers

A geometric study in black, white, and grey, 'Impossibles' by Josef Albers presents an arrangement of cylindrical forms that defy conventional spatial logic, challenging the viewer's perception of space and dimension.

Josef Albers (1888-1976) was a German-born artist and educator whose work, both in Europe and the United States, helped to define the course of 20th-century modernism. Albers is best known for his abstract paintings and colour theory. He studied at the Bauhaus, later teaching there until the school was closed by the Nazis in 1933. He then emigrated to the United States, where he taught at Black Mountain College and Yale University. His theories on colour relationships and perception were highly influential. 'Impossibles' presents a geometric study in black, white, and grey. The composition features two distinct arrangements of cylindrical forms, each defying conventional spatial logic. The forms are constructed from thin white lines that delineate the edges of the cylinders, creating an illusion of depth and volume. The cylinders are stacked and intersected in ways that challenge the viewer's perception of space and dimension. The background is a solid black, which accentuates the stark contrast and enhances the visual impact of the geometric shapes. The overall effect is one of visual paradox, inviting contemplation on the nature of perception and the interplay of form and space.