Photo
Asger Jorn, The Timid Proud One, 1957
From the Tate Collection:
Jorn had been a prominent member of CoBrA, a group of northern European artists whose improvisatory approach to painting was intended as a way of liberating their work from repressive bourgeois conventions. Although this painting was made several years after the group disbanded, its child-like style reflects the same principles. The figure embodies some mysterious inner struggle, perhaps reflected in the title. Jorn was a great believer in these kind of opposed dualities. ‘Tension in a work of art is negative-positive: repulsive-attractive, ugly-beautiful. If one of these poles is removed, only boredom is left’, he said.
Photoset
Asger Jorn, Untitled A (left) and Untitled C (right), 1958-59
From the Tate Collection:
Urgency and spontaneity are essential elements of Jorn’s work. They can be seen in the roughly worked background and short, aggressive lines found in each of these engravings. In Untitled A they combine to form a vaguely figurative aspect to the central form. Untitled C takes the form of a wraithlike head with gaping mouth. Both works have echoes of children’s drawings and pre-historic art which were important influences on Jorn.
(via flipthewitch)
