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Lot Essay
Frank Stella's Double Gray Scramble stands as a testament to the artist's innovative approach to abstraction. A pivotal figure in the world of contemporary art, Stella has continuously pushed the boundaries of artistic expression.
This print is related to Stella’s earlier paintings of concentric squares, some in gray tones and others exploring other color values. Here, he alternates between color and grayscale, combining – or “scrambling” – the squares of his earlier projects. The title of the print, Double Gray Scramble, refers to the way in which the colors and the grays seem to be constantly shifting and changing. The word ‘scramble’ also suggests an idea of disorder and chaos, which is reflected in the seemingly random arrangement of the color despite the geometric composition. These elements seem to both harmonize and clash, creating a dynamic visual tension that captures the essence of Stella’s work and the way in which he defines abstraction.
"The concentric square format is about as neutral and as simple as you can get. It's just a powerful pictorial image. It's so good that you can use it, abuse it, and even work against it to the point of ignoring it. It has a strength that's almost indestructible --- at least for me."
-Frank Stella
This print is related to Stella’s earlier paintings of concentric squares, some in gray tones and others exploring other color values. Here, he alternates between color and grayscale, combining – or “scrambling” – the squares of his earlier projects. The title of the print, Double Gray Scramble, refers to the way in which the colors and the grays seem to be constantly shifting and changing. The word ‘scramble’ also suggests an idea of disorder and chaos, which is reflected in the seemingly random arrangement of the color despite the geometric composition. These elements seem to both harmonize and clash, creating a dynamic visual tension that captures the essence of Stella’s work and the way in which he defines abstraction.
"The concentric square format is about as neutral and as simple as you can get. It's just a powerful pictorial image. It's so good that you can use it, abuse it, and even work against it to the point of ignoring it. It has a strength that's almost indestructible --- at least for me."
-Frank Stella