Imaginary Numbers by Yves Tanguy

Imaginary Numbers (1954)

Yves Tanguy | Surrealism | Oil on canvas

Strange stone-like shapes huddle together in a hazy, dreamlike space. The title sounds like math class, but this is a dream world, not a worksheet!

Did you know? In real math, imaginary numbers actually do exist! They're built from a special number called i, which makes negative one when you multiply it by itself. That sounds impossible, but engineers who work with electricity use these numbers all the time. Tanguy's painting and the math have something in common: both ask you to picture something you have never seen!

Original held at Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum

Museum-quality giclée print on archival Enhanced Matte Art paper (200gsm) with fade-resistant pigment inks rated for 100+ years. Also available as gallery-wrapped canvas and custom framed.

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