Constellations 1938

This is a print called ‘Constellations’ by Jean Arp, and it’s a really lovely example of how simple forms can feel so evocative. Arp had a knack for making shapes feel organic, almost alive. He builds up these biomorphic shapes, like he's discovering them rather than inventing them. Look at the way the green meets the yellow – there are no hard edges, just soft curves that suggest a world in constant flux. The green form at the center, for example, seems to have limbs, or maybe it's a plant reaching out. Arp was part of the Dada movement, which was all about embracing chance and spontaneity. You see that here, the way the shapes seem to float across the surface, unbound by gravity. In some ways, the work calls to mind Miro, who was also interested in these kinds of playful, suggestive forms. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, with artists building on each other's ideas and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.