What Do You See? The Collection of Sidney Rothberg, Part I

We wish to thank Dr. Hattula Moholy-Nagy for kindly confirming the authenticity of the present Lot.László Moholy-Nagy was a Hungarian painter and photographer, who played a significant role in the development of modernist art and design, and is particularly known for his artistic experiments with light, space, and technology. Moholy-Nagy was intrigued by new materials and their potential applications in art and design. Plexiglas, a transparent plastic material, was one such innovative material that caught his attention. He saw its potential for creating sculptures, installations, and other artworks that played with transparency, light, and reflection. For the artist, “the use [of] flaws and bubbles in the [Plexiglas] may lead to...kinetic light displays.” The result was something dynamic, something organic; “the picture would change continuously. It breathes.”In his exploration of Plexiglas, Moholy-Nagy created several artworks and designs that utilized this material's unique properties. These works often emphasized the interplay of light and shadow, the transparency of the material, and its ability to distort and reflect images. His Plexiglas works can be seen as a continuation of his broader interest in experimenting with the relationship between art, technology, and perception.Aside from his prolific artistic practice, Moholy-Nagy was also an important educator. In 1937, he founded the New Bauhaus in Chicago, which later became the Institute of Design. His vision for the institute was to integrate art, design, and technology, emphasizing a holistic approach to education. Moholy-Nagy played a crucial role in shaping the curriculum and philosophy of the Institute of Design, leaving a lasting impact on design education in the United States. This untitled Plexiglas work was, in fact, gifted to one of his students from the Institute of Design, further showing the deep and meaningful connections and impact he left on his students and colleagues.Moholy-Nagy's experiments with Plexiglas were part of his larger body of work that sought to push the boundaries of traditional forms and embrace new materials and technologies. Given its unusual medium, this work is experimental but remains true to Moholy-Nagy’s signature style and œuvre.