It was the early 70s when I stumbled upon a small art dealer in the bustling Hoogstraat of The Hague. There, in the window display, I spotted two silk-screen prints by none other than Vasarely himself. At first glance, I was in awe of their beauty, but the fact that they were part of a limited edition of 100 numbered and signed copies made me lose interest. You see, back then, I had never heard of art being published in such a manner. Nowadays, however, it has become a common practice. Artists now make a living off of these exclusive editions and individuals have the opportunity to acquire an original piece of art at an affordable price. Looking back, I regret not purchasing those prints at the time, but as the saying goes, “time flies and memories fade.”
Over the next three decades, Vasarely’s works seemed to have faded from the public eye. But in present times, his works have resurfaced and are highly sought after, rightfully so. Many consider him to be one of the leading artists of the Geometric Abstract art and Optical art movements. His unique perspective and approach to Modern Art has resulted in numerous beautiful and impressive works that can now be found in the most prestigious museums around the globe.
If you ever find yourself in Budapest, I highly recommend paying a visit to the Vasarely Museum located on the outskirts of the city (just a half-hour tram ride away). While it may not be your typical modern-day museum, the collection of Vasarely’s works housed within its walls is nothing short of fantastic. It’s a true feast for the eyes, featuring some of the best OP ART pieces you will ever see gathered in one place. Fun fact: you may even come across one of the Kriwin catalogues on display, as shown below.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, allow me to share a little secret with you. The Vasarely catalogue published by the Stedelijk Museum features an original relief print in black and white on the back cover (shown above). Now, that’s certainly something to marvel at.
www.ftn-books.com has several Vasarely titles available.
