JEAN (HANS) ARP (1886-1966)

Homme vu par une fleur (Man Seen by a Flower)

Meudon, France, 1958

Bronze

6 x 12.4 x 11 cm

There is no primary point of view for this curious and tactile little sculpture, best appreciated when turned in the hand. While it is essentially an abstract or non-representative object, the playful title suggests something dreamlike. This reflects Arp’s close association with the Surrealists and their interest in unlocking the subconscious. This cast is one of 400 given by the Belgian government to contributors to the 1958 Universal Exhibition in Brussels.

Gifted 2015 (No. 2015.2)

SEE THIS SCULPTURE IN THE BLUE GALLERY

arp500

Image © The Barber Institute of Fine Arts / DACS 2016