Installation view of the exhibition Josef Albers: Grey Steps, Grey Scales, Grey Ladders at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2016.
Installation view of the exhibition Josef Albers: Grey Steps, Grey Scales, Grey Ladders at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2016.

Josef Albers: Grey Steps, Grey Scales, Grey Ladders

The gallery's first exhibition of Josef Albers's work focuses on the artist's use of black, white, and grey throughout his career. The exhibition takes its title from a passage in Albers's Interaction of Color (1963), his significant treatise on color studies and an essential handbook for artists and teachers. The show includes Homage to the Square (A) (1950), the first in the artist's Homage to the Square series which would occupy him from this point until his death in 1976.

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For more information about available works contact inquiries@davidzwirner.com

Location
537 West 20th Street New York
Dates
November 3—December 17, 2016
Artist
Josef Albers
Press Release
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Grey Steps, Grey Scales, Grey Ladders
Installation view of the exhibition Josef Albers: Grey Steps, Grey Scales, Grey Ladders at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2016.
Josef Albers Homage to the Square (A) first homage painting

Josef Albers

Homage to the Square (A), 1950
Oil on Masonite
30 1/2 x 30 1/2 inches (77.5 x 77.5 cm)

"David Zwirner’s exhibition casts Albers not only as an influential abstract painter, but also as a masterful operator of systems and concepts, moving his work into open engagements with the environment outside the canvas itself."—A review of Grey Steps, Grey Scales, Grey Ladders in Art Observed

Josef Albers

Treble Clef G n, 1932-1935
Gouache and graphite on paper
15 x 10 1/8 inches (38.1 x 25.7 cm)

"To this end, we study gradation by producing so-called grey steps, grey scales, grey ladders. These demonstrate a gradual stepping up or down between white and black, between lighter and darker." — Josef Albers, Interaction of Color

A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Two color studies (Homage to the Square), undated.

Josef Albers

Two color studies (Homage to the Square), n.d.
Oil, ink, colored pencil, and graphite on card stock with varnish
10 1/8 x 7 1/8 inches (25.7 x 18.1 cm) Framed: 19 x 15 5/8 inches (48.3 x 39.7 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Blick aus meinem Fenster Stadtlohn 1911 Juli (View from my window Stadtlohn 1911 July), dated 1911.

Josef Albers

Blick aus meinem Fenster Stadtlohn 1911 Juli (View from my window Stadtlohn 1911 July), 1911
Pen, ink, and gouache on paper
11 3/8 x 8 inches (28.9 x 20.3 cm) Framed: 19 3/4 x 16 5/8 inches (50.2 x 42.2 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Bavarian mountain scene III, dated 1919.

Josef Albers

Bavarian mountain scene III, 1919
Ink and watercolor on paper
10 1/8 x 12 5/8 inches (25.7 x 32.1 cm) Framed: 18 1/8 x 20 3/8 inches (46 x 51.8 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Bavarian mountain scene IV, dated 1919.

Josef Albers

Bavarian mountain scene IV, 1919
Ink and watercolor on paper
10 1/8 x 12 5/8 inches (25.7 x 32.1 cm) Framed: 18 1/8 x 20 3/8 inches (46 x 51.8 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Modified Repetition, dated 1943.

Josef Albers

Modified Repetition, 1943
Oil on Masonite
15 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches (39.4 x 64.8 cm) Framed: 20 7/8 x 31 inches (53 x 78.7 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Homage to the Square, dated 1962.

Josef Albers

Homage to the Square, 1962
Oil on Masonite
24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Framed: 24 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches (62.2 x 62.2 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Study for Homage to the Square, dated 1965.

Josef Albers

Study for Homage to the Square, 1965
Oil on Masonite
24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Framed: 24 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches (62.2 x 62.2 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Homage to the Square [Entrez], dated 1964.

Josef Albers

Homage to the Square [Entrez], 1964
Oil on Masonite
18 x 18 inches (45.7 x 45.7 cm) Framed: 18 3/4 x 18 3/4 inches (47.6 x 47.6 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Homage to the Square [In Ivory Mist], dated 1964.

Josef Albers

Homage to the Square [In Ivory Mist], 1964
Oil on Masonite
18 x 18 inches (45.7 x 45.7 cm) Framed: 18 5/8 x 18 3/4 x 1 1/4 inches (47.3 x 47.6 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Homage to the Square, dated 1959.

Josef Albers

Homage to the Square, 1959
Oil on Masonite
18 x 18 inches (45.7 x 45.7 cm) Framed: 18 1/8 x 18 1/8 inches (46 x 46 cm)
A mixed media work on blotting paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study for Mitered Square III (Homage to the Square), undated.

Josef Albers

Color study for Mitered Square III (Homage to the Square), n.d.
Oil and graphite on blotting paper
13 1/8 x 12 1/8 inches (33.3 x 30.8 cm) Framed: 23 1/8 x 17 inches (58.7 x 43.2 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Homage to the Square [Ephemeral], dated 1966.

Josef Albers

Homage to the Square [Ephemeral], 1966
Oil on Masonite
48 x 48 inches (121.9 x 121.9 cm) Framed: 48 1/4 x 48 1/4 inches (122.6 x 122.6 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study, undated.

Josef Albers

Color study, n.d.
Gouache and graphite on paper
5 x 11 1/8 inches (12.7 x 28.3 cm) Framed: 12 x 18 1/4 inches (30.5 x 46.4 cm)
A mixed media work on card stock by Josef Albers, titled Color study, undated.

Josef Albers

Color study, n.d.
Oil and graphite on card stock
2 7/8 x 10 7/8 inches (7.3 x 27.6 cm) Framed: 10 x 18 inches (25.4 x 45.7 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study (Homage to the Square), undated.

Josef Albers

Color study (Homage to the Square), n.d.
Gouache and graphite on paper
12 1/8 x 8 3/4 inches (30.8 x 22.2 cm) Framed: 16 1/8 x 12 7/8 inches (41 x 32.7 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study (Homage to the Square), undated.

Josef Albers

Color study (Homage to the Square), n.d.
Oil and graphite on blotting paper
13 1/8 x 12 1/8 inches (33.3 x 30.8 cm) Framed: 19 7/8 x 18 1/2 inches (50.5 x 47 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study (Homage to the Square), undated.

Josef Albers

Color study (Homage to the Square), n.d.
13 1/4 x 12 inches (33.7 x 30.5 cm) Framed: 19 7/8 x 18 1/2 inches (50.5 x 47 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study for Homage to the Square, undated.

Josef Albers

Color study for Homage to the Square, n.d.
Oil and graphite on blotting paper
24 x 19 inches (61 x 48.3 cm) Framed: 33 1/8 x 27 5/8 inches (84.1 x 70.2 cm)
A painting on Masonite by Josef Albers, titled Study for Equal and Unequal, dated 1939.

Josef Albers

Study for Equal and Unequal, 1939
Oil on Masonite
11 x 26 inches (27.9 x 66 cm) Framed: 12 5/8 x 27 1/4 inches (32.1 x 69.2 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Indicating Solids, dated 1971.

Josef Albers

Indicating Solids, 1971
Oil on Masonite
22 x 24 inches (55.9 x 61 cm) Framed: 22 5/8 x 24 5/8 inches (57.5 x 62.5 cm)
A gouache and graphite work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Treble Clef c, circa 1932 to 1935.

Josef Albers

Treble Clef, c, 1932-1935
Gouache and graphite on paper
15 5/8 x 11 1/2 inches (39.7 x 29.2 cm) Framed: 22 7/8 x 16 1/2 inches (58.1 x 41.9 cm)
A gouache and graphite work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Treble Clef G b, dated 1932 to 1935.

Josef Albers

Treble Clef G b, 1932-1935
Gouache and graphite on paper
15 x 10 3/8 inches (38.1 x 26.4 cm) Framed: 22 7/8 x 16 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches (58.1 x 41.9 x 3.8 cm)
A gouache and graphite work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Treble Clef G c, dated 1932 to 1935.

Josef Albers

Treble Clef G c, 1932-1935
Gouache and graphite on paper
14 7/8 x 11 inches (37.8 x 27.9 cm) Framed: 22 7/8 x 16 1/2 inches (58.1 x 41.9 cm)
A gouache and graphite work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Treble Clef G i, dated 1932 to 1935.

Josef Albers

Treble Clef G i, 1932-1935
Gouache and graphite on paper
14 7/8 x 10 1/2 inches (37.8 x 26.7 cm) Framed: 22 7/8 x 16 1/2 inches (58.1 x 41.9 cm)
A gouache and graphite work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Treble Clef G n, dated 1932 to 1935.

Josef Albers

Treble Clef G n, 1932-1935
Gouache and graphite on paper
15 x 10 1/8 inches (38.1 x 25.7 cm) Framed: 22 7/8 x 16 1/2 inches (58.1 x 41.9 cm)
A gouache and graphite work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Treble Clef G g, dated 1932 to 1935.

Josef Albers

Treble Clef G g, 1932-1935
Gouache and graphite on paper
14 7/8 x 10 1/8 inches (37.8 x 25.7 cm) Framed: 22 7/8 x 16 1/2 inches (58.1 x 41.9 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study for Homage to the Square, undated.

Josef Albers

Color study for Homage to the Square, n.d.
Oil and graphite on blotting paper with varnish
13 1/8 x 7 1/8 inches (33.3 x 18.1 cm) Framed: 17 x 15 1/4 inches (43.2 x 38.7 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study (Homage to the Square), undated.

Josef Albers

Color study (Homage to the Square), n.d.
Gouache and graphite on paper
13 1/8 x 12 inches (33.3 x 30.5 cm) Framed: 17 3/8 x 16 inches (44.1 x 40.6 cm)
A painting on card stock by Josef Albers, titled Color study of grays, undated.

Josef Albers

Color study of grays, n.d.
Oil on card stock with varnish
7 1/8 x 10 1/8 inches (18.1 x 25.7 cm) Framed: 14 5/8 x 17 1/8 inches (37.1 x 43.5 cm)
A mixed media work on card stock by Josef Albers, titled Color study, undated.

Josef Albers

Color study, n.d.
Oil and graphite on card stock
4 7/8 x 11 inches (12.4 x 27.9 cm) Framed: 12 x 18 inches (30.5 x 45.7 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Study for Homage to the Square, dated 1968.

Josef Albers

Study for Homage to the Square, 1968
Oil on Masonite
24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Framed: 24 3/8 x 24 3/8 inches (61.9 x 61.9 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Study for Homage to the Square, dated 1968.

Josef Albers

Study for Homage to the Square, 1968
Oil on Masonite
24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Framed: 24 3/8 x 24 3/8 inches (61.9 x 61.9 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Study for Homage to the Square: Far in Far, dated 1965.

Josef Albers

Study for Homage to the Square: Far in Far, 1965
Oil on Masonite
24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Framed: 24 3/8 x 24 3/8 inches (61.9 x 61.9 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Study for Homage to the Square: Dimly Reflected, dated 1963.

Josef Albers

Study for Homage to the Square: Dimly Reflected, 1963
Oil on Masonite
24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Framed: 24 3/8 x 24 3/8 inches (61.9 x 61.9 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Study for Homage to the Square: Lone Whites, dated 1963.

Josef Albers

Study for Homage to the Square: Lone Whites, 1963
Oil on Masonite
24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Framed: 24 3/8 x 24 3/8 inches (61.9 x 61.9 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Homage to the Square (A), dated 1950

Josef Albers

Homage to the Square (A), 1950
Oil on Masonite
30 1/2 x 30 1/2 inches (77.5 x 77.5 cm) Framed: 31 1/8 x 31 1/8 inches (79.1 x 79.1 cm)
A mixed media work on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study for Homage to the Square, circa 1950.

Josef Albers

Color study for Homage to the Square, c. 1950
Oil and graphite on blotting paper
24 x 19 inches (61 x 48.3 cm) Window: 16 3/4 x 17 1/4 inches (42.5 x 43.8 cm) Framed: 27 1/2 x 25 1/8 inches (69.9 x 63.8 cm)
A painting on paper by Josef Albers, titled Color study for Homage to the Square, undated.

Josef Albers

Color study for Homage to the Square, n.d.
Oil on blotting paper
24 x 19 inches (61 x 48.3 cm) Window: 15 3/4 x 15 3/4 inches (40 x 40 cm) Framed: 27 5/8 x 25 1/8 inches (70.2 x 63.8 cm)
A painting by Josef Albers, titled Study for Homage to the Square: Late Exchange, dated 1964.

Josef Albers

Study for Homage to the Square: Late Exchange, 1964
Oil on Masonite
24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Framed: 24 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches (62.2 x 62.2 cm)

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          Grey Steps, Grey Scales, Grey Ladders

          Josef Albers

            Josef Albers

            Grey Steps, Grey Scales, Grey Ladders

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