Sophie Taeuber-ArpConstruction, éléments de cercles
1942
Ink on paper
dated on the reverse
12.68 x 12.01 in ( 32.2 x 30.5 cm )ZoomInquiry - Construction, éléments de cercles, 1942
Provenance
Private Collection, France
Guillaume le Floc'h, Paris
Private Collection, France
Exhibited
Larkin Erdmann, Zürich
Fontana, Picasso, Taeuber-Arp, Vantongerloo
December 12, 2019 - January 30, 2020
Artwork's description
Sophie Taeuber-Arp, a key figure in geometric abstraction and the Dada movement, developed a fully abstract artistic language in the 1930s. In Construction, éléments de cercles (1942), she delves deeper into her exploration of geometric forms, with the circle becoming a central motif in her work. The circle, often associated with continuity and infinity, allows Taeuber-Arp to create a subtle balance between movement and stability.
Her practice, informed by her experience in dance, introduces dynamic interplay between forms, as seen in her earlier creations at the Aubette.
The circle emerges as a recurring element in her compositions, embodying her pursuit of harmony between space and form. Despite her precise technique, Taeuber-Arp embraces the imperfections that result from her process, favoring experimentation over the pursuit of formal perfection.
In Construction, éléments de cercles, Taeuber-Arp demonstrates how a simple form like the circle can lead to a composition of great depth. Her contribution to the history of geometric abstraction is immense, as she established a new visual vocabulary that would shape modern art.