PROTON II 1966

Victor Vasarely made this painting called ‘PROTON II’ sometime during his career with paint on canvas. The colors are vivid, and the shapes suggest depth, like cubes receding into space. I love how Vasarely embraces flatness while creating an illusion. Look closely at how the colors interact. The reds pop against the blues and greens, creating a visual vibration. The edges of the shapes are sharp and clean, giving the painting a sense of precision. Yet, there's a subtle, handmade quality to it. It's not perfect, and that's what makes it interesting. Notice the way some of the colors bleed slightly into each other, softening the geometric forms. It’s as if the shapes are breathing, expanding and contracting before our eyes. Vasarely's work reminds me a little bit of Bridget Riley, but with a more playful, less rigid approach. Both artists explore the power of perception, but Vasarely’s paintings feel more like optical illusions. They invite us to get lost in the puzzle of space and color, and to question what we think we see.