1959 Woodcut Engraving "Constellation" by Jean Arp

Description

"Constellation" is second edition (1959) woodcut engraving by Jean Arp, published by Revue XXème Siècle. Print size: 12 3/8 x … more "Constellation" is second edition (1959) woodcut engraving by Jean Arp, published by Revue XXème Siècle. Print size: 12 3/8 x 9 1/2 inches. Mint condition.

The art review XXe Siecle (20th Century) was the creation of the Italian art historian Gualtieri di San Lazzaro. Each edition focused on a particular region or artist and was filled with articles by leading writers and would contain prints of all types by the artist of the issue. This publication was driven by Gaultieri’s passionate belief in the importance of making fine art accessible; in essence, Italy's "Verve".

Jean Arp (1886-1966), born Hans Arp, was a prominent French-German artist and poet. He was born in Strasbourg, then part of the German Empire but part of France since 1919. Arp began his artistic career as a painter but soon embraced sculpture as well. He was a founding member of the Dada movement in Zurich during World War I, and he contributed to the development of abstract and non-representational art. Arp believed in the spontaneity of artistic creation and often used chance and randomness in his work.

In the 1920s, Arp moved to Paris and became associated with the Surrealist movement. Surrealism was another avant-garde movement that explored the realms of the unconscious mind and dream imagery. Arp's sculptures, which often featured organic, abstract forms, were well-suited to the Surrealist aesthetic. One of his notable contributions to art is the development of "chance collages," where he would drop pieces of paper onto a surface and glue them where they fell, creating abstract compositions. This technique was a precursor to later artistic movements like Abstract Expressionism. Arp's work often explored the relationship between nature and art, and he was inspired by organic forms and shapes found in nature. "Constellation" is a classic example of Arp's art. less