- 54
Jean Arp
Estimate
45,000 - 60,000 GBP
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Description
- Jean Arp
- DU PAYS DE THALĂS
- bronze
- length: 33cm.
- 13in.
Provenance
Sidney Janis Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owners in 1958
Acquired from the above by the present owners in 1958
Literature
Giuseppe Marchiori, Arp: Cinquante ans d'activité, Milan, 1964, illustration of another cast p. 104
Ionel Jianou, Jean Arp, Paris, 1973, no. 131, edition catalogued p. 73
Stefanie Poley, Hans Arp: Die Formensprache im plastischen Werk, Stuttgart, 1978, no. 32, illustration of another cast p. 27
Arie Hartog (ed.) & Kai Fischer, Hans Arp: Sculptures - A Critical Survey, Ostfildern, 2012, no. 131, illustration of another cast and the present cast listed p. 115
Ionel Jianou, Jean Arp, Paris, 1973, no. 131, edition catalogued p. 73
Stefanie Poley, Hans Arp: Die Formensprache im plastischen Werk, Stuttgart, 1978, no. 32, illustration of another cast p. 27
Arie Hartog (ed.) & Kai Fischer, Hans Arp: Sculptures - A Critical Survey, Ostfildern, 2012, no. 131, illustration of another cast and the present cast listed p. 115
Condition
Mid brown patina. There is some minor surface dirt with scattered brown spots consistant with age. Apart from some tiny nicks and surface scratches including three points of contact wear on one limb, this work is in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Du pays de Thalès is a beautiful example of Arp’s mature sculpture, executed at the time when his work achieved a formal purity and a high level of abstraction. This was the time when his work was achieving great international recognition: in 1954, the year the present work was concieved, Arp was awarded the International Prize for Sculpture at the Venice Biennale.
Guided by chance and intuition, the artist often created organic, irregular shapes evocative of natural forms and parts of human anatomy. However his works transcend the realm of the natural world and point to the mysterious and poetic elements hidden in everyday forms. In 1952 Arp travelled to Greece for the first time, and subsequently titled several of his works with names from Greek history and mythology, such as Ptolémée, Ganymède and Daphné. The title of the present work refers to the land of Thales, a pre-Socratic philosopher from the 6th century B.C., who lived in Miletus in Asia Minor, and was one of the Seven Sages of Greece.
Arp also executed a marble version of this work, which is in the collection of the Fondation Arp in Clamart, France. Other bronze casts are in Museo d’Arte Medioevale e Moderna in Padua, Stiftung Hans Arp und Sophie Taeuber-Arp in Remagen, Germany and Fondation Arp, Clamart.
Guided by chance and intuition, the artist often created organic, irregular shapes evocative of natural forms and parts of human anatomy. However his works transcend the realm of the natural world and point to the mysterious and poetic elements hidden in everyday forms. In 1952 Arp travelled to Greece for the first time, and subsequently titled several of his works with names from Greek history and mythology, such as Ptolémée, Ganymède and Daphné. The title of the present work refers to the land of Thales, a pre-Socratic philosopher from the 6th century B.C., who lived in Miletus in Asia Minor, and was one of the Seven Sages of Greece.
Arp also executed a marble version of this work, which is in the collection of the Fondation Arp in Clamart, France. Other bronze casts are in Museo d’Arte Medioevale e Moderna in Padua, Stiftung Hans Arp und Sophie Taeuber-Arp in Remagen, Germany and Fondation Arp, Clamart.