Victor VasarelyCEPHEI
1959
Oil and collage on pannel on canvas
Signed, dated and titled on reverse
75.98 x 51.18 in ( 193 x 130 cm )ZoomInquiry - CEPHEI, 1959
Certificat
Provenance
Galerie Denise René, Paris
Pace Gallery, New York
Alber List Family, New York, 1965
Sotheby's Auction, New York
Christie's Auction, New York
Private Collection, Europe
Literature
Highlights of the 1965-66, Art Season, Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, Etats-Unis,n°80, 1966
Une autre dimension Victor VASARELY, Galerie Fleury, Paris, France, mars 2023
Exhibited
Highlights of the 1965-66, Art Season, Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, Etats-Unis, 1966
Une autre dimension Victor VASARELY, Galerie Fleury, Paris, France, mars 2023
Artwork's description
In the 1950s, Victor Vasarely, through his exploration of Black & White, delved into the line and the square. These two fundamental elements harken back to his roots as a graphic designer and were pushed to their maximum distortion to create a striking optical effect.
Through this work, the artist shows us that black and white are not simply colors, but dynamic forces that can create entire worlds of visual exploration.
Thus, Cephei stands as a testament to Vasarely's bold and innovative vision.
Artist's biography
Victor Vasarely is a Hungarian artist born in Pécs in 1906 who obtained French nationality in 1961.
In the 1920s, he briefly studied medicine at the University of Budapest, before enrolling in Fine Arts, as well as at the Bauhaus school in Budapest. In 1932, he moved to Paris and worked as a graphic artist in advertising agencies as a designer-designer (at Havas or Draeger, famous printer of the time). He made his first major work (Zebra) in the genre of op art (kinetic art).
He bases his work on the inspiration of great masters such as Sonia Delaunay, Piet Mondrian, etc. Over the years, he has developed his own model of geometric abstract art. We find in his compositions, a minimum number of shapes and colors. He is recognized today as the father of optical art.
His work has evolved over time. Indeed, at the beginning, we notice in his works that he knew how to create a plastic alphabet, whose infinite combinations make his art, a methodical art. Finally, we observe in him a new style, moving towards an abstract pictorial creation.
In 1976, Victor Vasarely created his foundation in Aix en Provence to promote and conserve all of his work.
Vasarely died on March 15, 1997 in Annet-sur-Marne at the age of 91.