Idoles (from the portfolio Le Poète Assassiné)
Print on paper (Arches vellum or similar) • Jean Arp (Hans Arp)
Style & Movement
Biomorphic Abstraction / Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Color lithograph; flat ink application with clean registration, likely pulls from hand-drawn stones or plates.
Creation Period
1948
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 45 x 33 cm (sheet); vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
A central large black circular form contains a white biomorphic (amoeba-like) shape and a small red organic element. Above this, a row of five smaller circles in varied tones (white, tan, black, teal) are arranged against a deep blue-grey field. The composition explores cosmic balance and organic growth.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; slight evidence of sheet rippling behind glass and minor tonal shifts in the margins.
Estimated Market Value
$2,500 - $4,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$2,000 - $3,500 USD
Provenance History
Likely part of the 'Le Poète Assassiné' portfolio published by Tériade, Paris; subsequently held in a private collection as a framed single sheet.
Art Historical Significance
A significant example of Arp's post-war printmaking. Arp was a founding member of the Dada movement and a pioneer of organic abstraction. This series shows his move toward 'concrete' art where shapes represent nothing but themselves.
Notable Features
Features the artist's characteristic 'Idol' motif; lower left margin appears to show Arp's pencil signature ('Arp').
Condition Issues
Potential light-strike/UV fading to the blue background; slight paper undulation indicating it may not be mounted to acid-free standards; minor discoloration along the sheet edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Recommend removal from current frame to inspect margins for adhesive residue; re-frame using museum-grade UV-protective glass and acid-free rag matting.