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keywordPath%20%3D%20%22GXSZ%22%20and%20Sort_Artist%20%3D%20%22Albers,%20Josef%22
Print
Day and Night VIII
Josef Albers, 1888 - 1976
Albers, Josef
United States
1888 - 1976
Male
18 7/8 x 20 7/16 in. (47.9 x 51.9 cm)
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.
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Printer's ink
Printer's ink
1963
1963
1963
1900-2000, 20th century, Charles Rand Penney Collection, lithographs, square
Print
lower leftlower right
1975.151
item
Memorial Art Gallery
9/8/1999
75.151 SL1
slide
full
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
glossy
8x10
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
negative
4x5
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
75.151DI1
digital image
1/23/2002
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/75.151_A1.jpg
75.151DI#2
digital image
7/8/2016
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/75.151_A2.jpg
Print
To Monte Alban
Josef Albers, 1888 - 1976
Albers, Josef
United States
1888 - 1976
Male
23 13/16 x 19 1/8 in. (60.5 x 48.6 cm)
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.
.
overall
sheet
.
.
.
overall
image
Printer's ink
Printer's ink
1942
1942
1942
1900-2000, 20th century, Charles Rand Penney Collection, line, lithographs
Print
Focus on the two most prominent rectangles in the image. Which of these shapes seems to be closer to you? What architectural structures unfold before your eyes?
Inspired by his travels to Latin American ruins in the 1930s and 1940s, Josef Albers’ print combines his streamlined Modern style of composition with inspirations from the ancient world. This particular print is an homage to the celebrated geometric pyramids of Monte Albán, which date back to around 300 BCE and are located in modern day Oaxaca, Mexico. Albers implies depth by surrounding the two central rectangles with a series of concentric lines, the arrangement mimicking the sloping sides of these grand architectural forms.
In this image, Albers also creates an optical illusion that challenges our perception of spatial depth. Which of these rectangles appears to be the top of the pyramid? Does that change depending on where you look?
[Label copy from Seeing in Color and Black and White, 2018]
lower right below imagelower left below imageverso, Somewhat illegible framers notes.verso
1975.152
item
Memorial Art Gallery
9/8/1999
glossy
8x10
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
negative
4x5
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
75.152DI1
digital image
1/23/2002
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/75.152_A1.jpg
75.152DI#2
digital image
7/8/2016
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/75.152_A2.jpg