Progression 1973

This print, Progression, was made by Gerhard von Graevenitz sometime between 1934 and 1983. It’s made up of all these little shapes that are almost, but not quite, the same. It feels like a system, but one that’s on the verge of collapsing into total chaos. It’s this tension that keeps it interesting. I'm always fascinated by what artists choose to repeat, and how they vary it. Here, the line is thin, almost delicate, and it outlines these geometric forms, these slightly wonky squares and triangles. I'm drawn to that one near the top left, it’s almost a perfect square, but the artist lets it waver, just a little. That wobble is everything! It's like a fingerprint, a sign of the human hand in this field of almost-perfection. It reminds me a bit of Sol LeWitt, but with a softer edge. Both artists are interested in systems, but Graevenitz lets the imperfection shine through. And that's what I love about art – it's not about perfection, it's about the beautiful mess we make along the way.