Black and White Lithograph "L'echiquier" (The Chessboard) by Victor Vasarely

Description

Victor Vasarely, the Hungarian-French artist and pioneer of the Op Art movement, is renowned for integrating geometric abstraction and optical … more Victor Vasarely, the Hungarian-French artist and pioneer of the Op Art movement, is renowned for integrating geometric abstraction and optical illusions in his artwork. The Chessboard, an original lithograph from 1969, hand-signed and numbered in pencil 10 on 100, is a major example of Vasarely's signature style.

The artist, an optical illusion master, used a strict black-and-white grid pattern to create an intricate puzzle-like composition that challenges the viewer's perception. The top and bottom blocks display a smaller version of the grid, while the middle block is filled with a knight, a rook, and a queen that seem to pop out of the flat chessboard background. Outside of the central grid are two other knights – one fully black facing the white one – and a single white rook, already outside of the game.

This piece is executed with precision and finesse, showcasing Vasarely's mastery of black and white form and his ability to create chromatic tension from the juxtaposition of these two equally intense colors. The sharp lines and stark contrast in the Chessboard create a hypnotic visual effect that transforms and morphs perception depending on the viewing angle. The tension is so deep that it prevents the viewer's eye from resting long enough on any one part of the surface to interpret it literally. less