JOSEF ALBERS (1888-1976) “Homage to the Square” Silkscreen Print

This silkscreen print by renowned German-born artist and educator Josef Albers (1888-1976) depicts an abstract composition for Albers’ famous series Homage to the Square. Squares in tones of green and chartreuse envelop one another, providing a masterful study of color and form: a testament to Albers’ genius and unmistakable, academic art style. Housed in an archival frame, this rare piece of fine art is signed and dated to 1973 by Albers along the bottom of the paper and is a must-have for any serious art collector.

About the Artist:
Joseph Albers (1888-1976) was born on March 19th, 1888 in Bottrop, Germany to a family of craftsmen and from an early age, had practical training in engraving glass, plumbing, and wiring, all of which would eventually lead to his versatility in handling diverse materials. Originally working as a schoolteacher, Albers began working as a printmaker in 1916, before moving to Munich in 1919 to study at the Weimar Bauhaus. In 1922, Albers joined the faculty of the Bauhaus, teaching alongside noted artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee. The Bauhaus was eventually closed in 1933 due to Nazi pressure, and many of the faculty left the country, with Albers emigrating to the United States. Famed architect Phillip Johnson, then a curator at the Museum of Modern Art, arranged for Albers to head up the painting program at the legendary Black Mountain College in North Carolina, where some of his most notable students included Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Ruth Asawa. Albers taught at Black Mountain College until 1950, when he left to lead the department of design at Yale University, teaching there until his retirement in 1958. The first living artist to be given solo shows at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Albers continued working as a painter and theorist, publishing his book Interaction of Color in 1963, now seen as a benchmark study in color theory. Albers died in New Haven, Connecticut on March 25th, 1976, cementing a legacy as one of the most important artists and educators of the 20th century. 

This silkscreen is amongst hundreds of pieces of art that are available at our location in Grandview! Come in today and see the full collection.