Jean Arp
French
Born: September 16, 1886
Strasbourg, France
Died: June 7, 1966
Basel, Switzerland
Art Movement: Abstract Art, Dada, Surrealism
Born in 1886, Hans Peter Wilhelm Arp (known as Jean Arp) was a French-German painter, sculptor, poet, pioneer of Abstract Art, and pivotal contributor to the shaping of Dadaism. He also played a crucial role in the development of Surrealism.
1912 Arp moved to Munich after studying at the Académie Julian in Paris. He met Kandinsky and was involved and exhibited with the ‘The Blue Rider’ German Expressionist group.
Arp was known for his innovative approach to art, often incorporating chance and randomness into his creative process. He embraced the idea of "automatic" art, where he would allow spontaneous, uncontrolled elements to influence his work.
Jean Arp decided to flee to Switzerland to avoid being drafted into the German forces after World War I started. When asked to come to the German consulate in Zurich, he would claim to be mentally insane by incorrectly attempting to solve an elaborate math equation.
In 1916, alongside other notable artists like Tristan Tzara and Hugo Ball, Arp founded the Dada movement, which emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the horrors of World War I. “Dada aimed to destroy the rational deceptions of man and recover the natural and irrational order,’ said Jean Arp.
Shortly after arriving in Zurich, he met Sophie Taeuber, a Swiss painter who became his wife and work partner for many years.
One of Arp's most famous contributions to art was his creation of "chance collages." He would drop pieces of paper onto a surface and glue them where they fell, creating compositions that were partially dictated by chance. This technique challenged the notion of the artist's total control over their work.
Throughout his career, Arp also produced sculptures characterized by organic, abstract forms, often inspired by natural shapes. His work in sculpture and painting significantly influenced the development of Surrealism, and he was associated with notable artists such as Max Ernst, Joan Miró, and André Breton.
After World War II, Arp settled in France and continued to produce art and collaborate with other artists.
Jean Arp passed away in Basel, Switzerland, on June 7, 1966. His work continues to be celebrated for its innovative and groundbreaking contributions to Modern Art.
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