Hans Peter Wilhelm Arp, known as Jean Arp to his English audience, was a German-French sculptor, painter, and poet. He was born in Strasbourg, which was part of Germany at the time, in 1886.
Arp attended the Ecole des Arts et Métiers in Strasbourg before traveling to Paris where he published his poetry for the first time in 1904. Between 1905 and 1907 Arp attended the Kunstschule in Weimar. He then moved to Paris where he attended the Académie Julian.
Once he had completed his studies, Arp moved to Switzerland where he was a founding member of the Moderner Bund group. He participated in their exhibitions between 1911 and 1913.
He then returned to Paris in 1914, where he was linked with many famous surrealist artists including Pablo Picasso. The following year in 1915, Arp moved back to Switzerland where he first met fellow artist and future wife, Sophie Taeuber.
The duo collaborated extensively together creating collages and tapestries together in Zurich. The pair married 7 years later in 1922.
In 1916, Hugo Ball opened the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich which was to become the center of activity for a group of dada artists. Arp was a part of this group and remained involved even after his move to Cologne, Germany in 1919.
It was at this point that Arp started contributing to various magazines. His work was also featured in the first surrealist exhibition in Paris in 1925, where his work appeared alongside the likes of Pablo Picasso.
Arp’s work often falls into the dada category. Dada art was developed in reaction to World War 1, and consisted of artists who rejected the logic, reasoning, and aesthetics of modern society. The dada movement is linked to radical left-wing politics. A fitting movement for an artist like Arp. Over the years he avoided being drafted into the German military and moved to Switzerland to take advantage of its neutral position in global conflict.
1. Abstract Composition
The ‘abstract composition’ is a form of abstract art made by Jean Arp in the year 1915.
2. Head With Mustache
‘Mustache Hat’ was created in 1932 by Jean Arp in Dada style.
3. Configuration
‘Configuration’ was created in 1927 by Jean Arp in Surrealism style.
4. Human Concretion
This sculpture is one of a series that is typical of the early stages of the Surrealist career of Jean Arp made in the year 1933.
5. Constellation According to the Laws of Chance
Constellation According to the Laws of Chance c. 1930 is a small rectangular painted wooden relief by French artist Jean Arp.
6. According to the Laws Of Chance
According to the Laws Of Chance with the original title as “Selon Les Lois du Hasard” in the Dada style in the year 1933.
7. Torn-Up Woodcut
According to the Laws of Chance shows Arp plays with random composition, in this case dropping painted pieces of paper onto a surface. Torn Woodcut was made in a similar way in 1954.
8. Danger Of Death(TO5OO7)
Danger Of Death was made in the year 1954 by Jean Arp.
9. Abstract composition Knossos
‘Abstract Composition, Knossos’ was created in 1956 by Jean Arp in Abstract Art style.
‘Found and Navel’ was made in the year 1930 by Jean Arp in Surrealism style.
11. The Star
The Star was a sculpture made in the year c.1939 – c.1960 by Jean Arp in Surrealism style.
Made in Dada style Man, mustache, navel was made by Jean Arp in the year 1930.
13. The Sun Recircled
The Sun Recircled is an abstract artwork made in the year 1966 by Jean Arp.
14. Rising Up (S’elevant)
The Rising Up was a sculpture made in the year 1962 by Jean Arp in Surrealism style.
15. Idole
Jean Arp, Idol from La Magie Quotidienne is a Woodcut print made in 1961. It is signed and numbered in pencil. Published by Louis Broder, Paris.
16. Growth
Growth is a sculpture made in Surrealism style by Jean Arp in the year 1938.
17. Constellations
Constellations was made in the year 1938 in Surrealism style.
18. Evocation of a Form: Human, Lunar, spectral
Evocation of a Form: Human, Lunar, Spectral is an abstract bronze sculpture by Jean Arp. Modeled in 1950; it was cast in 1957. It is in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
19. Terrestrial Forest Form
‘Terrestrial Forest Form’ was created in 1917 by Jean Arp in Surrealism style.
20. Geometric Collage
Jean Arp created the Geometric collage in Zurich in 1916–17, at the geographic and temporal heart of the Dada movement.
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