Hommage à Arago

by Eric H. Olson

Artist Eric H. Olson (Sverige, 1909 - 1995)

Alternate Title

Hommage to Arago

Date1961

MediumPolariserat glas, plexiglas

Dimensions34 x 34,5 x 14 cm

ClassificationSculptures

Credit LinePurchase 1961

Countries

Sweden

Object NumberNMSK 1778

The artwork is not on display

About the artworkFrancois Arago (1786-1853) was a French astronomer and physicist. He studied the polarisation of light. Eric H. Olson has applied his discoveries. Layers of rectangles of greyish, semi-transparent glass are meticulously aligned vertically. Polarisation splits the light, and circles appear in the glass. From some angles the glass appears monochrome, but if we shift our focus point slightly all the colours of the rainbow suddenly emerge. Here the magic of the prism is demonstrated, breaking up the light and proving that all colours are inherent in pure light. Many of Eric H. Olson's sculptures are based on a similar idea, but in Composition with Light Wavelengths [in the Moderna Museet collection] the verticality is interrupted by a horizontal rectangle. In this work no circles appear in the glass, only linear shapes. Viewing Olson's works is like looking through a kaleidoscope.
Signatures, inscriptions and marks Signerad på fotplattans vänstra kortsida på vit lapp fäst med tejp "eric -h olson". Selected exhibition history Concrete Matters (den 24 februari 2018 - den 13 maj 2018) Moderna Museet, Stockholm 3 års inköp (1963) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Rörelse i konsten (1961) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues 3 års inköp : [Moderna Museet : april - juni 1963]Concrete Matters : [Moderna Museet 24/2-13/5 2018]Concrete Matters : [Moderna Museet 24/2-13/5 2018]Rörelse i konsten : Moderna Museet, Stockholm : 17 maj - 3 september 1961

Works by the artist