The abstract art movement Op art came to international attention in the mid-1960s, an era of global social and technological change. The movement, which placed emphasis on viewer perception by exploring optical effects in painting, sculpture and light installation, quickly gained in popularity but met with considerable criticism. This important book, published to accompany the first major Op art exhibition by an American museum in twenty-five years, examines the development of the movement, its cultural context and its widespread impact on advertising, fashion and film-making. Featuring visually stunning works by such key figures as Josef Albers, Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely, "Optic Nerve" offers a timely reappraisal of this highly influential movement. "Optic Nerve" is the first comprehensive survey of Op art to be published for more than thirty years featuring over 200 spectacular images, including the most significant works of this revolutionary artistic movement.