Josef Albers Abstract Prints
No artist has contributed more to our understanding of color than German-born painter, writer and educator Josef Albers (1888–1976). At the Bauhaus, Albers taught what was perhaps the first course dedicated to the study of how different hues interact with one another.
“In order to use color effectively it is necessary to recognize that color deceives continually,” he wrote in The Interaction of Color, a compilation of his 30 years of research into color theory at the Bauhaus, Black Mountain College and Yale University School of Art, where he was head of the department of design.
Albers dismissed the notion that colors could be understood solely through their physical properties. Instead, he emphasized their unstable, seductive, character and the necessity of observing their behavior in different contexts. “If one says ‘red’ — the name of color — and there are fifty people listening, it can be expected that there will be fifty reds in their minds,” he wrote. “And one can be sure that all these reds will be very different.”
The wealth of prints, lithographs and other works by Albers are studies in color perception. The paintings of “Homage to the Square” — his most iconic series, begun in 1950 and stretching over more than 25 years — investigate the perceptual mutations produced when colors are juxtaposed in nested squares.
The simplicity of these compositions is deceptive, demonstrating as they do how the illusion of dimensionality and afterimages can be created using entirely flat forms. Albers painted nearly a thousand “homages,” and his treatment of color as a metamorphosing, magical element was crucial to the development of the Op art movement.
Browse a provocative collection of screenprints, lithographs and more by Josef Albers at 1stDibs.
to
8
14
110
21
5
2
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
129
12
5
3
537
165
164
152
146
152
1
1
21
124
107
31
14
141
5
3
3
3
116
13
134
15
Artist: Josef Albers
Steps - P2, F1, I2, Abstract Geometric Screenprint by Josef Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
From the portfolio “Formulation: Articulation” created by Josef Albers in 1972. This monumental series consists of 127 original silkscreens that are a definitive survey of the artist...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Movement in Gray - P2, F30, I1
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Josef Albers
Title: Portfolio 2, Folder 30, Image 1 from Formulation: Articulation
Year: 1972
Medium: Screenprint on Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper
Edition: 1000
Image Size: ...
Category
1970s Minimalist Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Steps - P2, F1, I1, Geometric Abstract Screenprint by Josef Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
From the portfolio “Formulation: Articulation” created by Josef Albers in 1972. This monumental series consists of 127 original silkscreens that are a definitive survey of the artist...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Windows - P1, F21, I2, Geometric Abstract Screenprint by Josef Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Josef Albers
Portfolio: Formulation: Articulation (Double Portfolio)
Title: Portfolio 1, Folder 21, Image 2
Year: 1972
Medium: Screenprint on Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper
...
Category
1970s Minimalist Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Zig Zag - P1, F29, I1
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Josef Albers
Title: Portfolio 1, Folder 29, Image 1 from Portfolio: Formulation: Articulation (Double Portfolio)
Year: 1972
Medium: Screenprint on Mohawk Superfine Bristol pa...
Category
1970s Minimalist Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Variant - P1, F30, I1
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Josef Albers
Title: Variant from the Formulation: Articulation portfolio
Portfolio 1, Folder 30, Image 1
Year: 1972
Medium: Screenprint on Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper
Edit...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Challenging Confusion - P1, F13, I1
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Josef Albers
Portfolio: Formulation: Articulation (Double Portfolio)
Title: Portfolio 1, Folder 13, Image 1
Year: 1972
Medium: Screenprint on Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper
...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Variant - P1, F30, I2
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Josef Albers
Title: Variant from the Formulation: Articulation portfolio
Year: 1972
Medium: Screenprint on Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper
Edition Size: 1000
Image Size: 9 x 1...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Monumental Linear Construction - P2, F21, I1
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Josef Albers
Title: Untitled from the Portfolio: Formulation: Articulation (Double Portfolio) - Portfolio 2, Folder 10, Image 2
Year: 1972
Medium: Screenprint on Mohawk Super...
Category
1970s Minimalist Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Z Prism - P2, F16, I1, Abstract Screenprint by Josef Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Josef Albers
Portfolio: Formulation: Articulation (Double Portfolio)
Title: Portfolio 2, Folder 16, Image 1
Year: 1972
Medium: Screenprint on Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper
...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Biconjugate: Indoor - P2, F23, I1, Geometric Screenprint by Josef Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
From the portfolio “Formulation: Articulation” created by Josef Albers in 1972. This monumental series consists of 127 original silkscreens that are a definitive survey of the artist...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Formulation: Articulation, Portfolio II, Folder 23
By Josef Albers
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Josef Albers
Formulation: Articulation, Portfolio II, Folder 23, 1972
silkscreen
Edition of 1000, unnumbered, unsigned
Framed Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 25 1.2 inches (19.1 x 38.7 cm) ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Formulation : Articulation Portfolio I Folder 25 (A)
By Josef Albers
Located in White Plains, NY
A black, white, and grey silkscreen by Josef Albers from, "Articulation : Formulation," published by Harry N. Abrams, 1972, and printed by Ives - Still...
Category
1970s Abstract Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Steps - P1, F1, I2, Abstract Geometric Screenprint by Josef Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
From the portfolio “Formulation: Articulation” created by Josef Albers in 1972. This monumental series consists of 127 original silkscreens that are a definitive survey of the artist...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Formulation : Articulation, Portfolio II Folder 16 (A)
By Josef Albers
Located in White Plains, NY
A black, white, and grey silkscreen by Josef Albers from, "Articulation : Formulation," published by Harry N. Abrams, 1972, and printed by Ives - Still...
Category
1970s Abstract Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Formulation : Articulation Portfolio I, Folder 30 (B)
By Josef Albers
Located in White Plains, NY
A black, white, and grey silkscreen by Josef Albers from, "Articulation : Formulation," published by Harry N. Abrams, 1972, and printed by Ives - Still...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Untitled from Formulation: Articulation
By Josef Albers
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A print by Josef Albers. "Formulation: Articulation" is a geometric abstract screen print in a black and white palette by Post War artist Josef Albers. The artwork is from an edition...
Category
Mid-20th Century Post-War Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Bands/Posts - P1, F3, I2
By Josef Albers
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Josef Albers (1888-1976) is remarkably affiliated with numerous movements that have defined art history in the 20th century. Art Historians credit Albers for fusing elements of Ameri...
Category
1970s Abstract Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Untitled, from Formulation: Articulation
By Josef Albers
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A print by Josef Albers. "Formulation: Articulation" is a geometric abstract screen print in a black and white palette by Post War artist Josef Albers. The artwork is numbered 1981.5...
Category
Mid-20th Century Post-War Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Prefatio, from the Graphic Tectonics Series
By Josef Albers
Located in New York, NY
Edition: 34. This impression is one of only two proofs printed on graph paper. Printed by Reinhard Schumann, Hickory, North Carolina. Reproduced in Formulation: Articulation (portfol...
Category
20th Century American Modern Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Untitled
By Josef Albers
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An abstract screen print by Post War artist Josef Albers. Signed lower right, "Albers '72". Editioned lower left, "LC 134/144".
Category
1970s Post-War Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Formulation: Articulation 1981.524.1.1
By Josef Albers
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A print by Josef Albers. "Formulation: Articulation 1981.524.1.1" is a screen print, executed in shades of blue and depicting abstracted, folded ...
Category
1970s Post-War Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
"Embossed linear constructions (ELC)" - Geometric, Embossing, White, Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Complete Portfolio "Embossed linear constructions (ELC)" of eight embossings by Josef Albers from 1969 on 300g Arches paper.
The total edition comprises 116 copies.
Sheet size eac...
Category
1960s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Paper
from "Structural Constellations" - Abstract, engraving, geometric, black, white
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Josef Albers' works “Structural Constellations” were created from 1949 onwards. They demonstrate spatial perception on flat surfaces ‘as a function of phenomenal vision anchored in p...
Category
1960s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Plastic, Laminate, Engraving
from "Structural Constellations" - Abstract, engraving, geometric, black, white
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Josef Albers' works “Structural Constellations” were created from 1949 onwards. They demonstrate spatial perception on flat surfaces ‘as a function of phenomenal vision anchored in p...
Category
1960s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Plastic, Laminate, Engraving
from "Structural Constellations" - Abstract, engraving, geometric, black, white
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Josef Albers' works “Structural Constellations” were created from 1949 onwards. They demonstrate spatial perception on the surface ‘as a function of phenomenal vision anchored in phy...
Category
1960s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Plastic, Laminate, Engraving
EK If from "Homage to the Square: Edition Keller I" - Abstract, Green, Geometry
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Screen print "EK If" by Josef Albers from 1970 from the portfolio "Homage to the Square: Edition Keller I"
The paper used was specially produced for the portfolio, all works with th...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
EK Id from "Homage to the Square: Edition Keller I" - Abstract, Red, Geometry
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Screen print "EK Id" by Josef Albers from 1970 from the portfolio "Homage to the Square: Edition Keller I"
The paper used was specially produced for the portfolio, all works with th...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
EK Ib from "Homage to the Square: Edition Keller I" - Abstract, Orange, Geometry
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Screen print "EK Ib" by Josef Albers from 1970 from the portfolio "Homage to the Square: Edition Keller I"
The paper used was specially produced for the portfolio, all works with th...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
I-S e - Josef Albers, Abstract, Screenprint, Square, Yellow
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
The present screenprint from 1970 is titled and numbered in pencil below the image on the left and monogrammed and dated on the right.
Sheet Size: 54,6 x 54,6 cm
Image Size: 34,9 x...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
SP VI from "SP" - Abstract, Screenprint, Square, Green, Grey, Yellow
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Screenprint by Josef Albers from 1967 from the Portfolio "SP": portfolio with 12 colour screenprints on Schöllers Hammer Board.
The edition comprises a total of 137 copies.
Sheet s...
Category
1960s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
SP I from "SP" - Abstract, Screenprint, Square, Brown, Blue, Green
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
This screenprint from 1967 is taken from the portfolio "SP": portfolio with 12 colour screenprints on Schöllers Hammer Board.
The edition comprises a total of 139 copies.
Sheet siz...
Category
1960s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Sheet 5 from "Hommage au carré" - Abstract, Screenprint, Square, Brown, Black
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
The present work is the fifth sheet from ‘Hommage au carré’: portfolio with 12 colour screenprints, a French foreword by Michael Seuphor, French and English annotations by Josef Albe...
Category
1960s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
"Homage to the Square: Ten Works by Josef Albers" - Abstract, Set, Square
By Josef Albers
Located in Köln, DE
Set of 10 colour screenprints by Josef Albers.
Edition of 250 copies on Mohawk Superfine Bristol.
Sheet dimensions each: 43 x 43 cm
Illustrations each: 28 x 28 cm
All works labell...
Category
1960s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
I-S VA 4 (from the Six Variants)
By Josef Albers
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Josef Albers' I-S VA 4, created in 1969, is a color screenprint on Arches paper from his renowned series Six Variants. This work, part of an edition of 150, is signed, titled, dated ...
Category
1960s Color-Field Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Screen
Formulation: Articulation, Portfolio II, Folder 25
By Josef Albers
Located in Saint Louis, MO
JOSEF ALBERS (1888 – 1976)
"Formulation : Articulation" Portfolio II, Folder 25
Screen-printed geometric composition printed by Ives Stillman, Inc., New Haven, CT.
From the set of 12...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Josef Albers Abstract Prints
Materials
Paper, Screen
Josef Albers abstract prints for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Josef Albers abstract prints available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of abstract prints to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, orange, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Josef Albers in screen print, paper, archival paper and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Josef Albers abstract prints, so small editions measuring 9 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Mauro Oliveira, Alexander Calder, and Jesús Rafael Soto . Josef Albers abstract prints prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $199 and tops out at $22,000, while the average work can sell for $1,800.
Artists Similar to Josef Albers
Questions About Josef Albers Abstract Prints
- Who is Josef Albers?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers is an artist associated with the Bauhaus movement who lived from 1888 to 1976. He developed an important color theory hypothesis and employed it in works like his "Homage to the Square" series. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Josef Albers art.
- What is Josef Albers known for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers is known for his work as a painter, educator and writer. His work as an artist helped to define the modern period and advance color theory, changing the way future generations approached their own art. His "Homage to the Square" series contains his most famous pieces. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Josef Albers art.
- What inspired Josef Albers?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022What inspired Josef Albers changed over the course of his life. During the Bauhaus period, his colleagues Johannes Itten and László Moholy-Nagy greatly influenced his work. In the 1950s, Albers and his wife, textile artist Anni Albers, frequently traveled to Mexico to draw inspiration from the local architecture and art. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Josef Albers art.
- When was Josef Albers born?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers was born on March 19, 1888, in Bottrop, Germany. He would go on to become a leader of the modern art movement and to make huge strides in the area of color theory research. Shop a selection of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- How do I pronounce Josef Albers?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To pronounce Josef Albers, say "JOW-suf ALL-burz." His first name is the German spelling of the English name Joseph and said in much the same way. His last name is also of German origin. On 1stDibs, find a range of Josef Albers art.
- Where did Josef Albers teach?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers taught at more than one school during the course of his life. After a brief period of time as an elementary school teacher in Bottrop, Germany, he enrolled in the Bauhaus school and began teaching classes there within a few years. After moving to the U.S., he taught at Black Mountain College in North Carolina and the Yale University School of Art in Connecticut. Shop a range of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- Who were Josef Albers’ parents?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers's parents were Magdalena and Lorenz Albers. His father worked as a handyman, painting houses, performing repairs and doing carpentry jobs, and his mother came from a long line of blacksmiths. You'll find a variety of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- How did Josef Albers paint?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers usually painted with a palette knife instead of a paintbrush, liking how the increased level of control allowed him to create sharp, well-defined lines. He rarely used a palette, normally applying paint right from the tube. Usually, he produced his pieces on Masonite board to add texture to the compositions. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Josef Albers art.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers framed his work in different ways throughout his career, but he is most well known for the compositions of his "Homage to the Square" series. These oil paintings featured bold squares in varying hues that demonstrated how colors impact one another. Albers framed the squares with mathematical precision, masterfully fusing geometry with art. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Josef Albers artistic expression.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Over the course of his long career, Josef Albers painted in more than one movement. His early work fits the characteristics of Bauhaus artists, while his later compositions are in line with the features of geometric abstraction. Find a collection of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers used the same materials throughout his career. Usually, he preferred oil paints, which he applied with a palette knife instead of a brush. Much of his work appears on textured masonite board. Find a selection of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers came to America in 1933 after the Nazis shuttered the Bauhaus. He and his wife, the textile artist Anni Albers, originally settled in North Carolina. During his time there, Albers taught at Black Mountain College. Shop a variety of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers's color theory holds that the only way to fully understand a single color is to view it alongside other colors. He believed that surrounding colors had the ability to change the perception of a hue, and he used his "Homage to the Square" series to demonstrate this. Find a variety of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers taught many subjects at the Bauhaus. When he began as a teacher, he oversaw the Vorkurs, the introductory course that reviewed composition, construction, design, color theory and other fundamentals. In later years, he became a full professor and expanded his course offerings. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Josef Albers art.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022No, Josef Albers's art is generally not considered fauve. Fauvism refers to an art movement that lasted from 1904 to around 1910 and included artists like Henri Matisse and André Derain. Although these artists' use of color likely influenced Josef Albers, historians associate him with the Bauhaus movement that lasted from 1919 to 1933. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Josef Albers art.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers taught at the Yale University School of Art from 1950 until 1958. In addition to instructing classes, he served as the dean of the university's Department of Design. You can find a range of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers went to more than one school during the course of his life. He attended the Königliche Kunstschule in Berlin and earned a teaching certification after he graduated in 1915. In 1920, he enrolled at the Bauhaus school. Within three years, he began teaching the introductory course at the institution. Shop a collection of Josef Albers art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To get Josef Albers paintings appraised, search for certified art appraisers in your area who are knowledgeable about works from the modern period. You may be able to get a rough idea of the value from an online search, but a true determination of what a painting is worth requires a close inspection by a professional. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted Josef Albers art.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Josef Albers taught at an elementary school in the town of Bottrop, Germany, during the early 20th century. The name of the school is unknown. Albers would go on to teach at the Bauhaus and Yale University. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Josef Albers art.