Victor Vasarely Topaze Noire – Positif, 1967 draws the eye with deep and saturated colors in midnight blue, rich purples, and lighter blues and lilacs. The darker color palate is enhanced by the presence of pitch black geometric shapes settled onto the colored squares. The center of the composition is marked by the starkest contrast overall – the offset black square on a white background piece. Just to the right is another element of contrast, a white offset square that mimics the black one. The bright spots of white draw the eye into to the center right of the piece, making is slightly off balance. This weight to one side adds complexity to the overall image. Topaze Noire – Positif, 1967 is made in relief, with certain elements extruding from the piece. The play of light on this creates added depth, along with the three dimensional nature of the artwork.

Vasarely Topaze Noire – Positif, 1967 is made of ‘plastic units’ formed from a base square and then a compositional element layered over. For example, in this piece the center ‘plastic unit’ is formed from a white base square overlaid by a black rotated square. These elements make up the ‘alphabet.’ Because the base squares can be moved in and out easily to create immense variation, this ‘alphabet’ spawns infinite possibility. Through this artistic endeavor Vasarely was playing with the idea of ‘form-color’ which he viewed as one aspect as he strove for pure composition in his works of art.

Created in 1967, this wood relief multiple painted in colors is hand signed by Victor Vasarely (Pécs, 1906 – Paris, 1997) in ink on a label affixed to the reverse; numbered from the edition of 50 in ink on a label affixed to the reverse.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

1. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards Victor Vasarely Topaze Noire – Positif, 1967 presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.