Movement in Squares 1961

Bridget Riley made this work, Movement in Squares, and it looks like she used black and white paint to create a grid that just messes with your eyes. I love how the squares morph into these tiny, skinny rectangles in the middle. It's like she’s taken a simple checkerboard and stretched it on a bizarre journey. Looking closely, you can see the paint isn't perfectly smooth; there's a slight texture, a handmade feel that contrasts with the geometric precision of the design. This tension between the handmade and the mechanical is so interesting. It reminds me of those moments when you're staring at something so intensely that it starts to vibrate or shift, or maybe even the feeling you get when your eyes are going bad. Riley’s work is like a mind game, a visual puzzle that keeps you guessing and engages you in this optical dance. It’s a conversation between the artist, the canvas, and, ultimately, your own perception.