Josef Albers was a German artist born in 1888. He studied to become a teacher in Germany from 1905 to 1908 and taught primary schools from 1908 to 1913. After further art education, he became an art teacher. In 1950, he became head of the Department of Design at Yale University School of Art, holding that position until 1958 when he became a visiting professor until 1960. Some of his notable artworks include Black Circle from 1933 and Study for Homage to the Square from 1954.