Josef Albers - SP-J (D. 209). 1971

SP-J (D. 209).  1971

Artist: Josef Albers
Title: SP-J
Year: 1971
Medium: Screenprint in colours on Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper, with full margins
Image Size: 32.2 × 32 cm (12 5/8 × 12 5/8 in)
Sheet Size: 82.9 × 62.1 cm (32 5/8 × 24 1/2 in)
Edition: 150 — of which only 125 were signed; plus 25 Artist's Proofs — this example: from the signed 125
Signature: Signed with initials, titled, dated and numbered in pencil
Publisher: Ives-Sillman, Inc., New Haven — commemorating the 25th anniversary of Galerie der Spiegel, Cologne
Printer: Printed in the United States
Reference: D. 209
Frame: Framed
Type: Limited edition screenprint — commemorative edition

Description: 

SP-J (1971) is a rare and historically specific screenprint from Josef Albers — produced by Ives-Sillman, Inc., New Haven, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Galerie der Spiegel in Cologne, one of the most important postwar galleries in Germany and a long-standing champion of Albers's work. The work belongs to the Homage to the Square series — the sustained investigation of colour relationships that Albers pursued from 1950 until his death in 1976, producing over a thousand paintings, prints, and drawings within the same invariable format: concentric squares, each impression a controlled experiment in how colours modify each other through proximity and contrast.

The image size — 32.2 × 32 cm — is intimate, almost exactly square, the mathematical relationship between the four nested squares rendered with the screenprint precision that allows Albers's colour science to operate without interference. The Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper — a smooth, bright white stock associated with the highest standards of American fine art printing — gives the colour zones their maximum luminosity and sharpness of edge: the flatness is absolute, the boundaries are perfect, and within those conditions the optical effects Albers sought — the apparent advance or recession of different colour temperatures, the perceived change in a colour depending on what surrounds it — become fully legible.

What makes SP-J particularly significant within the Homage print catalogue is its production context: Ives-Sillman, Inc. of New Haven was the primary publisher of Albers's most important print editions, operated by his close collaborators and friends, and the works produced under their imprint carry a level of quality control and archival authority that distinguishes them from other Albers publications. The edition of 150 — of which only 125 were signed by Albers himself — means that unsigned impressions circulate alongside signed ones, making this signed example from the restricted 125 particularly desirable. Referenced as D. 209 in the authoritative catalogue raisonné. Presented framed.

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FAQ 

Is this an original Josef Albers screenprint?
Yes — an original screenprint in colours on Mohawk Superfine Bristol paper, signed with initials, titled, dated and numbered in pencil, from the signed portion of the edition (125 of the total 150).

Why were only 125 of the 150 signed?
Albers signed only 125 of the 150 impressions in the main edition — meaning 25 unsigned impressions circulate alongside the signed ones. This example is from the signed 125, making it among the most desirable in the edition.

What is the edition size?
150 impressions total (125 signed + 25 unsigned) plus 25 artist's proofs. This impression is from the signed 125.

What is the commemorative context of this work?
The edition was published to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Galerie der Spiegel, Cologne — one of the most important postwar galleries in Germany and a long-standing supporter of Albers's work.

Is this work referenced in the catalogue raisonné?
Yes — listed as D. 209 in the authoritative reference for Albers's prints.

Who published this work?
Ives-Sillman, Inc., New Haven — Albers's primary print publisher, operated by his closest collaborators, and the most authoritative imprint in his print catalogue.

Is the work framed?
Yes — framed, as shown.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes — worldwide, with museum-grade packaging for framed works, full insurance, and shipment tracking.

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