Original screenprint in two colors on Vélin de Rives paper. Hand signed by the artist "Arp" in pencil, lower right. Impression aside from the numbered edition of 200. With the partial blindstamp of the publisher "Guilde de la Gravure," lower left. In fine condition, framed with museum quality conservation materials.

Sheet size: 22" x 14 7/8"; Framed: 32 3/4" x 24 13/16"
Catalogue reference: Arntz 328

A “constellation” is a term coined by the artist Jean Arp to describe a composition that illustrates the infinite number of possible configurations that can be constructed with a limited number of elements. Oftentimes the elements used are distorted ovals because of their imperfect and off-balance shape serves as emblems of perpetual transformation. Another example of the constellation technique that the artist developed was called “dessins déchirés” (literally meaning “ripped drawings”.) This is a technique where Arp would rip apart a sheet of colored paper and either consciously arrange or spontaneously throw the fragments onto a new page and glue them down. For the artist, this natural process of construction revealed the never-ending possibilities of destruction and regeneration in life and nature. Because the variations for each work of art were innumerable, the artist was unable to consider any of his works fully realized, and he would often make series of themed constellations.