Born in Bottrop, Germany, in 1888, Josef Albers began his career with a background in craftsmanship and teaching. He gained international prominence as a central figure at the Bauhaus, where he studied and later taught, before emigrating to the United States in 1933 to lead the art program at Black Mountain College.

Albers is celebrated for his systematic approach to visual perception, utilizing the square as a neutral format to investigate the interaction of colors. His work focuses on how colors change in appearance based on their proximity to one another, a concept he codified in his influential book, Interaction of Color.

His legacy continues to influence contemporary geometric abstraction and color theory. His work remains a foundational reference point in modern art history, frequently cited in discussions regarding the evolution of systematic and minimalist painting practices.