Yaacov Agam
Front view
Left view
Right view
Yaacov Agam (Israeli, born 1928), Paris, 1980, acrylic on aluminum mounted on board; 30 1/8 × 33 1/4 × 4 inches (Frame, white acrylic and plywood mounting board: 38 × 41 × 1 inch). Gift of the Estate of Gladys M. Rubinstein, 2014.101a-b.
The Israeli artist Yaacov Agam is an early pioneer of the Kinetic Art movement, which refers to art that is set in motion or has appearance of movement, and was generally created between the 1920s and 1970s. Agam also advanced Op Art, an important development in painting internationally, in which the use of geometric forms and patterns created optical effects.
As one interacts with Paris, the viewer experiences shapes, lines, and colors changing within the piece. The colors and patterns of the work emerge and disappear depending on one’s viewpoint—moving from one side or the other reveals two different images—one black-and-white, and the other color. Standing directly in front of the work results in yet a third set of colors and patterns.
