Torso Fruit

1960

French, 1886 -1966

Jean Arp, a leader of the Swiss Dada movement, often used biomorphic forms in his work to bridge the natural and the man-made. This late example has a strong suggestion of the human form, but as the title implies, attempts to blend distinctions between a torso and an unspecified piece of fruit. The creative confusion that results reminds us that our brains are hard-wired to define objects as one thing or another.

Plaster with paint

30 x 14 x 12 in. (76.2 x 35.6 x 30.48 cm)

Gift of Mme. Jean Arp

77.1

Provenance: The artist's atelier; by inheritance to his widow, Marguerite Hagenbach (Mme. Jean Arp); gift from Mme. Arp to Seattle Art Museum, February 1, 1977

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Henry Art Gallery, Modern Masters and the Figure, Sept. 16 - Nov. 28, 1993.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Reinstallation of the Permanent Collection: Modern Art Gallery, Oct. 17, 1994 - Oct 16, 1995.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Reinstallation of Permanent Collection: Downtown First Avenue Lobby Case, Feb. 26, 1996 - May 12, 1997.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Dis-Figured, May 31, 2001 - Mar. 17, 2002.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Abstract Visions, Aug. 6, 2021 - June 5, 2022.

Published ReferencesTrier and Arp. "Jean Arp Sculpture: His Last Ten Years. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1968. No. 237.

Read, Herbert. "Jean Arp." New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1968.

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