Woodcut on wove paper
France, 1949
Jean (Hans) Arp (1886-1966) – German/French abstract painter, sculptor and poet
Signed in pencil lower left ‘Arp’
Numbered in pencil lower right ‘73/90’
Full margins with deckled edges; Framed and matted, floating in mat
Sheet dimensions: 19 ½ x 25 ¼ in. (49.5 x 64.1 cm.)
Overall dimensions: 27 ½ x 33 in. (69.9 x 83.8 cm.)
Very good condition

Striking in its simplicity, this graphic woodcut by Jean Arp depicts a white bird-like mask on a black background. A mixture of geometric shapes and soft lines, the confluence of styles defies compositional categorization. The disparity of line is heightened by the soft areas of black ink that allows the paper underneath to show through.

Executed in 1949, this woodcut on wove paper is signed and numbered seventy-three from an edition of ninety. The work has full margins with deckled edges, and is framed and matted, floating in the mat. The sheet measures 19 ½ x 25 ¼ inches. In overall good condition with no evidence of tears or repairs.

Jean (Hans) Arp (French, born German, 1886-1966)

A pioneer of abstract art, Jean Arp was born Hans Arp in Strassburg. After studying at the École des Arts et Métiers and the Académie Julian, Arp lived in many different European cities throughout the 1910s, including Munich, Paris, and Zurich. During this time he published his poetry and created abstract works of art. Arp befriended many fellow artists, including Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Wassily Kandinsky, Amedeo Modigliani, and Pablo Picasso. Considered one of the founding members of the Dada movement, Arp also actively participated in Surrealism and Constructivism. In his collages, reliefs, and sculptures, Arp often incorporated waste material such as discarded paper and fabric, and embraced chance and spontaneity as integral components of the artistic process. His work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions including retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art (1958) and the Musée National d’Art Moderne (1962).