Pastel chalk, gouache and pencil over lithograph on colors on strong wove paper
Switzerland, 1989
Jean Tinguely (1925-1991) - Swiss painter, sculptor, graphic artist and designer of the ‘Nouveau Réalisme’
Signed in pencil with ‘Jean Tinguely’ lower right
Inscribed in pencil with ‘EA’ and partly deleted dedication ‘pour(…)A’ within the depiction lower left
Dated in chalk with ‘le 3 avril 1989’ to the upper margin
Inscribed in pencil by another hand with ‘Variante 10 / 7. farbig’ to the lower left margin
Matted under glass in a white varnished wooden frame
Sheet size: 38 x 50 cm
Good condition
Typical ‘color explosion’ by Jean Tinguely; the current highest auction record for a similar mixed media work by Tinguely is approximately €15,000

With the present work, executed in mixed media, Jean Tinguely (1925-1991) made ??reference to his sculptures ‘Meta-Harmonies I and II’ dated 1978-1979. These sculptures consist of wheels, rods, instruments and found objects attached to moving racks. The user was invited to explore the sculpture by walking around it, being surprised by acoustic elements, controlled by small computers.

Tinguely has called these works ‘Ton-Mischmaschinen’ (sound-mixing machines). The present work plays with the repertoire of the ‘meta-harmonies’ in differentiated and harmonious color shades.

The sheet is signed in pencil with ‘Jean Tinguely’ lower right and inscribed in pencil with ‘EA’ and marked with the (partly deleted) dedication ‘pour(…)’ within the depiction lower left. It is dated in chalk with ‘le 3 avril 1989’ to the upper margin and inscribed in pencil by another hand with ‘Variante 10 / 7. farbig’ to the lower left margin. The reverse bears the inscription ‘Color-tex Antoniante Valencia’. The work is mounted in a mat to the upper margin in a white glazed wooden frame. It is in good condition, showing minor creases and light stains to the lower margin of the paper. The frame shows only slight signs of use. The image measures 29 x 41 cm, and the sheet size is 38 x 50 cm. Overall dimensions, including the frame: 81, 5 x 71 cm.

Jean Tinguely (1925-1991)

The Swiss painter and sculptor Jean Tinguely, born in 1925 in Freiburg, is well recorded for his mobile, machine-like sculptures. His early works of art are made of wire, wire-plate-compositions as well as figures from colorful sheet metal parts. His abstract works reflect elements of Kasimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, and Auguste Herbin. Tinguely's cinetic sculptures are considered to be cheerful, playful and funny. In 1960, he became a member of the Artists' Association ‘Nouveaux Réalistes’ (New Realists), which was founded under the direction of Pierre Restany. In the same year, Tinguely caused attention by his large machines made of scrap in the garden of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His later works are extended by the factor of light, producing numerous light sculptures.

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