Artist
Jean ArpFrench, 1887–1966
CultureFrench
Titles
- Yellow Constellation
Date1953
Made inFrance
MediumPainted wood relief
Dimensions29 1/2 × 23 5/8 in. (74.9 × 60 cm)
Credit LineBequest of Caroline Wiess Law
Object number2004.6
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 203
On view
Explore Further
Department
Modern and Contemporary ArtObject Type
extended series of wooden reliefs that he
called Constellations. Each was made up of
biomorphic forms, which Arp variously
identified as “the egg / the planetary orbit /
. . . the bud / the human head / the breast /
the sea shell.” Arp would arrange these
elements “according to the laws of chance,”
a principle that guided his work throughout
his career as he sought to tap into the
intuitive and natural forces of creation.
Provenance[Sidney Janis Gallery, New York]; Dr. Theodore Leshner, New York; sold through [E.V. Thaw & Company, Inc., New York]; purchased by Theodore Newton Law and Caroline Wiess Law, Houston, April 1964, until his d. 1989; Caroline Wiess Law, Houston, until d. 2003; bequeathed to MFAH, 2004.
Exhibition History"XXth Century Masters," Sidney Janis Gallery, New York, October 24–November 29, 1954.
“Exhibition of Sculpture by Jean Arp,” Sidney Janis Gallery, New York, March 6–April 6, 1968, cat. no. 47.
"Houston Collectors: A Selection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; March 21–May 12, 1968. [No catalogue].
"Modern Painting: 1900 to the Present," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 15–September 14, 1975. [No catalogue].
"Wood in Art," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, June 22–September 23, 1979, cat. p. 75.
“Exhibition of Sculpture in Marble, Bronze and Wood Relief by Jean Arp,” Sidney Janis Gallery, New York, January 10–February 16, 1980, cat. no. 45.
"The Private Eye: Selected Works from Collections of Friends of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, June 10–August 13, 1989.
"A Spirited Vision: Highlights of the Bequest of Caroline Wiess Law to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 22–April 25, 2004.
"Modern Art from the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, December 12, 2007–April 6, 2008.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Possibly a signature on the back on one of the paper labels on verso: "Arp"
Back labels from "b.c. holland gallery...", "sidney janis gallery / ...new york..."
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
