Victor Vasarely
Widely considered the grandfather of Op art, the French-Hungarian painter Victor Vasarely (1906–97) created eye-popping geometric abstractions that play with the viewer’s perception of depth, perspective and motion. A classic example is the 1937 Zebra, which consists of undulating black and white stripes that suggest the form of the titular animal through optical trickery. The work is often credited as the earliest Op art painting.
Such illusions were more than pleasing tricks for Vasarely, who insisted that “pure form and pure color can signify the world.” He wanted to “democratize” art by producing works in large editions at reasonable prices that were understandable across national and cultural boundaries. In the 1960s, he developed an alphabet plastique, or fine art alphabet, consisting of elementary visual building blocks that could be used in endless combinations to create original compositions. By employing this universal visual vocabulary and stripping away topical references, he sought to create what he called a “Planetary Folklore.”
Embodying Vasarely’s singular belief that art should serve a social function, accessible to all, these innovations may perhaps be his greatest contribution to 20th-century art.
Find a collection of Victor Vasarely prints, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
Late 20th Century French Victor Vasarely
Lucite, Paper
20th Century American Modern Victor Vasarely
Paint
1980s French Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Plexiglass
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Wood
1970s French Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Acrylic, Paint
1980s Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Glass, Paper
Mid-20th Century Victor Vasarely
Chrome
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Victor Vasarely
Wool
1980s French Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Wool
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
Late 20th Century Victor Vasarely
Paper
Late 20th Century North American Post-Modern Victor Vasarely
Glass, Paper
1960s Hungarian Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Victor Vasarely
Paper
20th Century Swiss Modern Victor Vasarely
Glass, Plastic, Paper
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Glass, Paper, Wood
Late 20th Century Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s French Minimalist Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
Mid-20th Century Victor Vasarely
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Metal
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Glass, Wood, Paper
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Aluminum
1970s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
20th Century North American Post-Modern Victor Vasarely
Lucite
1970s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Acrylic
1970s American Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Acrylic
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Victor Vasarely
Wood, Glass, Paper
1970s French Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
Late 20th Century Austrian Modern Victor Vasarely
Paper
Late 20th Century French Victor Vasarely
Lucite, Paper
1970s European Vintage Victor Vasarely
Plexiglass
1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper, Plastic
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1960s Hungarian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1960s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paint, Paper
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Silk
1970s American Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Wood, Paper
1980s Hungarian Post-Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Ceramic, Porcelain
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1970s American Post-Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Glass, Paper
1970s French Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper, Glass, Plastic, Maple
1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper, Glass, Plastic, Maple
1970s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Wood
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Victor Vasarely
Steel
1960s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Paper
1980s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Acrylic
1970s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Aluminum
1970s French Vintage Victor Vasarely
Wood