Caracas-M 1952

Victor Vasarely made 'Caracas-M' without indication of when, though knowing his practice, I imagine it was made with acrylic on canvas, employing bold geometric shapes. This work feels like an exercise in color and form. The warm yellows and browns, set against the black, create a visual push and pull. I can almost feel Vasarely experimenting, positioning shapes, and testing how they interact. Looking at the triangles and curves, I wonder if Vasarely aimed to create a sense of depth, or maybe he was more interested in pure surface tension. What interests me most is how the color, and the slightly imperfect application of the paint, destabilizes any reading of geometric perfection. This feels like the kind of painting that could keep you thinking forever. I want to see what other painters make after seeing this work.