Jean Arp (Hans Arp) - Constellation (1959)
A preeminent figure of the Dada and Surrealist movements, Jean Arp (Hans Arp) explores the poetic intersection of chance and organic order in this masterwork. "Constellation" serves as a definitive expression of Arp’s "biomorphic abstraction" — a style that sought to reconcile the human spirit with the elemental rhythms of nature.
In this original woodcut, Arp utilizes fluid, undulating forms to create a sense of silent movement. These shapes, characteristic of his mature period, evoke both the microcosmic and the celestial, suggesting a universe in a state of perpetual becoming. The deliberate simplicity of the composition emphasizes the tactile quality of the woodblock medium, a technique Arp favored for its raw, earthly connection to the material world.
Published in Paris by the renowned art review XXe Siècle (San Lazzaro), this piece belongs to an era of extraordinary lithographic and woodcut production that brought the avant-garde into the world's most sophisticated collections. It is an essential acquisition for those seeking to capture the quintessential spirit of Mid-Century Modernism.
• Year: 1959
• Medium: Original woodcut on wove paper
• Dimensions: 12 1/5 × 9 3/5 in (31 × 24.5 cm)
• Edition: Limited edition of 2000
• Publisher: XXe Siècle (San Lazzaro), Paris
• Condition: Perfect Condition
• Framing: Unframed
This woodcut was printed from a wood block in 1959.
This work is a sophisticated testament to Arp's legacy, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of the high-modernist canon. Its minimalist aesthetic and historical pedigree make it a centerpiece for any curated interior or private collection.
