Josef Albers

Sidney Janis Gallery, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above in June 1964

Amhest, Massachusetts, Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, Color Painting: A Special Loan Exhibition, February - March 1972, cat. no. 4, illustrated

The work is a "study for homage to the square." It is executed in oil on masonite, the rougher side of the masonite being painted with four squares which appear to be overlapping or nested within one another. Along the edges a line of the white primer is visible. As on all the work from "homage to the square," Albers noted all the media used on the back of the painting. The colors used in this work are (from center): Pure Cadmium Yellow Deep Naples Yellow Reddish Brilliant Yellow Deep Cadmium Yellow Light Condition: The painting is in overall good condition. Under UV light, there is evidence of earlier inpainting throughout the surface, especially in the outer square. The center square does not fluoresce under UV light. Under normal lighting conditions, the surface of the painting appears clean and fresh with minor evidence of inpainting visible in raking light. The white primer margin is clean. The work was recently cleaned by Contemporary Conservation Ltd., New York City at the recommendation of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. The painting is framed in a period silver metal strip frame.
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