Torso & Leaf-Torso

1930 & 1963, Hans Arp

  • © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2016/ Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck, Foto: Mick Vincenz
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    Hans (Jean) Arp, Torso, 1930 Bronze (0/5)
    © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2016/ Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck, photo: Mick Vincenz
  • © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2016/ Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck, Foto: Mick Vincenz
    2 / 2
    Hans (Jean) Arp, Leaf-Torso, 1963 Bronze (0/V, Rudier 1981)
    © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2016/ Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck, photo: Mick Vincenz

About the Works

Torso, 1930
Bronze (0/5), Height: 27 cm

Leaf-Torso, 1963
Bronze (0/V, Rudier 1981), Height: 87 cm

Since earliest times images of the human body have played a central role in art. Since Auguste Rodin in particular, many artists have focused their attention on the representation of torsos. Arp also produced variations on this subject in numerous sculptures. As early as 1930, a human Torso formed one of his first three-dimensional works. In Leaf-torso we witness, however, the metamorphosis of human and plant. In spite of the apparently vegetable formal language we immediately draw parallels between the supposed buds and human forms. Both sculptures have little in common with the classical subject of the torso. Thus the stumps of the missing limbs are full of vitality and recall the sprouting shoots of a plant. They provide evidence of Arp's constant preoccupation with the natural processes of growth.

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