In the 1960s, Sol LeWitt emerged as a pivotal figure in the development of both Minimalism and Conceptual art, significantly influencing the course of modern and contemporary art with his innovative ideas and practices. This period was marked by LeWitt's experimentation with geometric forms and his development of a new kind of art that emphasized the concept over the physical object. LeWitt's early work in the 1960s included experiments with modular cubes, where he established a specific ratio between the negative space of the beams and the positive space of the material itself. He opted for the color white for these sculptures to avoid the "expressiveness" associated with black, making arbitrary aesthetic choices that he consistently applied across several works. This was a departure from traditional sculptural practices and aligned with the emerging minimalist aesthetic, which sought to strip art down to its essential qualities (Wikipedia). By 1968, LeWitt began to conceive sets of guidelines for wall drawings, which were executed directly on the wall surface. These works, made first in graphite and later in other materials including crayon, colored pencil, and ink washes, were instrumental in the development of Conceptual art. LeWitt's wall drawings explored all possible combinations of a square divided into four equal parts, employing a different system of change for each series. This approach allowed for a multitude of permutations, underscoring the artist's interest in systems and rules over the physical execution of the artwork (Wikipedia). LeWitt's work during this era was not only about exploring geometric forms and structures but also about challenging traditional notions of art-making and the role of the artist. His method of employing assistants to execute his works based on detailed instructions further emphasized the idea that the conception of the artwork was more important than its execution. This practice questioned the traditional artist's hand in the creation of art and the unique object as the final product, shifting the focus to the intellectual and conceptual framework behind the art (www.wikiart.org) (The Art Story). Sol LeWitt's contributions during the 1960s laid the groundwork for the subsequent evolution of Conceptual art and continued to influence artists and the broader art world. His innovative approach to art-making and his redefinition of the artwork's conceptual foundation marked a significant shift in the perception and creation of art in the 20th century (The Art Story) (The Museum of Modern Art).
