The Rule of the Circle, The Rule of the Game 1985

Geta Bratescu made this collage, titled "The Rule of the Circle, The Rule of the Game", from paper on grid paper. I imagine Bratescu, scissors in hand, carefully cutting out these shapes – some striped and patterned, others blocks of deep color. There's a real sense of play here. The circle, that ancient symbol of wholeness, becomes a container for a riot of color and texture. The grid underneath adds another layer, hinting at structure and order. But the torn edges and unexpected juxtapositions suggest a joyful breaking of those rules. I see this piece as part of a larger conversation among artists across time. Thinking of Kurt Schwitters and his collages from found materials, or Matisse and his cut outs towards the end of his life, each artist explores the possibilities of color, form, and composition. Bratescu invites us to embrace the unexpected, and to find beauty in the interplay between order and chaos.