Jean (Hans) Arp (1886-1966)

We thank the Fondation Arp, Clamart, for their help cataloguing this work.

In 1960, Arp became interested in the figure of Demeter, the goddess of corn, grain, and the harvest and created a curvaceous, sensuous, abstracted form to represent her. Often inspired by his own works, Arp fashioned the present work from a previous sculpture, Déméter, into a simpler, more elongated and less figurative shape. "I am often attracted by a detail in my sculptures—a curve, a contrast—which becomes the germ of a new sculpture," he wrote. "I accentuate this curve, this contrast, and it brings me new shapes" (quoted in J. Fricker, "Germe d'une nouvelle sculpture," Arp, exh. cat., Musée national d'art moderne, Paris, 1962, p. 50). He titled this work La poupée de Déméter, or Demeter’s Doll. While the original Demeter evokes the powerful image of a classical, maternal figure, the doll reminds one of play, childhood, and imagination, three of the principal themes of the Dada movement, of which Arp was one of the founders.
While the reference to Demeter may infer a traditional representation, Arp creates a modern depiction of the female form, and succeeds in creating a shape as simplified as possible, whose sensual undulations, harmonious grace and almost organic suppleness could define the criteria for timeless beauty. This fullness of form and this simplicity of representation are obtained by removing the limbs and all figurative details. Only the elegant outline of the silhouette is retained, accentuated by the luminous reflections of the golden patina.