Three by Three
| Artist | Richard Anuszkiewicz (American, 1930–2020) |
|---|---|
| Title | Three by Three |
| Date | 1968 |
| Medium | Acrylic on canvas |
| Dimensions | Framed (73 1/2 in per October 2015 measurement): 73 × 73 × 1 7/8 in. (185.4 × 185.4 × 4.8 cm) Stretcher: 72 x 72 in. (182.9 x 182.9 cm) |
| Credit Line | Jane and Roger Wolcott Memorial, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 68.146 |
| This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request. | |
An abstract composition of nine squares arranged in a three-by-three pattern, forming a larger square. The squares themselves are formed by thin contours which get smaller and smaller until the reach a central smaller square. The color palette of the squares forms a gradient from warm oranges and yellows on the left to cooler toned oranges and pinks on the right.
Anuskiewicz made a name for himself in the Museum of Modern Art’s 1965 survey of optical art, "The Responsive Eye," and became one of the movement’s premier colorists.
Although well-versed in the color theory of his teacher Josef Albers, as well as those of nineteenth-century color physicists, Anuskiewicz sought to move beyond a theoretical approach to create color schemes that gave the viewer a "particular feeling of enchantment." Using the square as his motif, he arranged intense complementary colors by varying size and widths to create color vibrations, the illusion of movement, and the optical phenomena of an afterimage or aura. Anuskiewicz’s paintings bridged the gap between the scientific-based Op Art and the commercial or drug-induced realms of Pop Art and psychedelica.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Three by Three | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=68.146