Vertical and Diagonal Planes

Born in Bohemia, Kupka was active in Paris for much of his career. He created his first abstract works in 1911, combining his interests in Cubism, Czech folk art, philosophy, and optics. These radical new paintings were among the first purely nonrepresentational works produced in Europe. Here, the multitude of rectilinear geometric forms in saturated colors interlock to suggest stained glass, textile design, or a folding screen.