Victor Vasarely Black “Zebra” Lithograph / Relief, Edition of 150, 1989

Victor Vasarely Black “Zebra” Lithograph / Relief, Edition of 150, 1989
Victor Vasarely
Hungarian-French, 1906–1997
Black version of Vasarely’s celebrated “Zebra” imagery, one of the defining motifs of the Op Art movement. The composition suggests two zebras intertwined together, possibly an adult and smaller child zebra, formed through curved linear patterns that create a strong optical effect and a sense of movement and dimensionality.
Vasarely’s complex paintings, prints, and sculptures helped define the visual language of the Op Art movement. His compositions often combine rigid geometry with more fluid forms, using monochrome contrasts or vivid color palettes to create optical illusions. Before fully committing to art, Vasarely studied medicine in Budapest, and that early exposure to scientific thinking and visual order informed the precision of his later work.
Vasarely moved from Hungary to Paris in 1930, where he worked as a commercial graphic designer and developed the visual language that would later define Op Art. His original “Zebra” imagery was conceived during this early Paris period, around 1937, and is often regarded as one of the earliest examples of Op Art. He later revisited and expanded the image through editions, prints, reliefs, tapestries, and other multiples, making the design one of his most recognizable and widely circulated motifs.
Signed “SP 4” in white graphite and numbered from the edition of 150 lower center. Blindstamp lower left.
Place of production:
Atelier Pinton Frères, Felletin, France.
Dimensions:
Sheet: 40" H x 33.25" W
Framed: 52" H x 44" W
Frame:
Lucite frame sandwiches the print with a clear front and black back.
Condition:
Very good vintage condition. Minor wear to frame consistent with age and use. Print presents well. The work has remained framed since coming off the press.