François Morellet

A leading figure of postwar geometric abstraction, François Morellet developed an art grounded in systems, chance, and rigorous visual logic. By the early 1960s, he had rejected subjective composition in favor of pre-established rules, often using industrial materials to distance the work from traditional notions of expression and craftsmanship. 4 Trammes de Grillage exemplifies this decisive moment in his career.

The work consists of four superimposed wire grids mounted on a rigid support. Each grid follows a simple, repeatable structure, yet their overlay produces complex visual effects—moiré patterns, shifting densities, and subtle optical vibrations that change as the viewer moves. Rather than composing intuitively, Morellet allowed the inherent properties of the material and the logic of the system to generate the image. The result is an artwork that appears both strictly rational and unexpectedly dynamic.

Created in 1962, this piece aligns with Morellet’s involvement in Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel (GRAV), whose members sought to activate perception and emphasize viewer participation. The use of wire underscores his interest in transparency, dematerialization, and the dissolution of the traditional picture plane. 4 Trammes de Grillage 0°-22°5- 45°-67°5 stands as a refined example of Morellet’s pursuit of an objective, rule-based art that nonetheless engages the eye in continual, perceptual play.