Riley in 1979. (Courtesy Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Every five years the German town of Siegen, Germany, the birthplace of Old Master Peter Paul Rubens awards its Rubens prize to a "painter living in Europe in honor of his or her lifetime’s artistic accomplishment." This year, Artforum notes today, the award has been given to Op artist Bridget Riley, who has an exhibition at the city's Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen from July 1 through Nov. 11.

Past winners of the Rubens prize include Hans Hartung (1957/8), Giorgio Morandi (1962), Francis Bacon (1967) and Sigmar Polke (2007). (The whole list is pretty impressive.)

Ms. Riley is the second female to nab the prize. Maria Lassnig was the first to do so when she won in 2002.