L IV 1936

László Moholy-Nagy made *L IV* with oil paint and what looks like a ruler. I like the way the black lines of the grid create a sense of space, but the floating shapes undermine it. They're like little architectural models, but they don't quite obey the laws of physics. I can imagine Moholy-Nagy pushing these shapes around, trying to find the right balance. It’s a bit of a high wire act. The colors are so subtle, almost like a faded memory. That muted red really pops—a focal point that keeps the eye dancing. I wonder if he was thinking about Mondrian or the Bauhaus when he made this. He's playing with geometry and color, but there's also a sense of playfulness, a lightness that keeps it from being too serious. It’s like he’s inviting us to rearrange the world, to see things from a new angle.