Aluminum on plexi base
France, 1962
Jean (Hans) Arp (1886-1966) – German/French abstract painter, sculptor and poet
Incised with signature verso ‘ARP’
Incised with numbering verso ‘3/5’
Dimensions (diameter): 15 in. (38.1 cm.)
Good condition
Provenance: Dominion Gallery, Montreal

Smooth amorphous forms rest atop an aluminum circle by French sculptor Jean Arp. Known for his rounded forms, “Composition dans un Cercle 5” combines the artist’s technical skill as a sculptor with his recognizable compositional experimentation. The soft shapes of the forms lie in tension with the flat metal and angular edges, giving the work a large sense of dimensionality within shallow depth.

Executed in 1962, this aluminum sculpture is incised with the artist’s signature and numbered three from an edition of five. The work measures 15 inches in diameter. Minor surface scratches and areas of pitting throughout. Otherwise good condition.

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).