Sophie Taeuber-Arp, abstract artist and polymath: Christopher Farr x Fondation Arp

The two new rugs, the hand knotted ‘Etude Ligne 1941’, and CF Editions hand tufted ‘Aubette 58', 1926-17, are made in collaboration with the Fondation Arp, the designs are adapted from original artworks of Taeuber-Arp. Each rug is numbered and delivered with a signed certificate of authenticity, much like a limited edition work of art. The printed linen has been developed from original artwork, once again held in the archives of the Fondation Arp, just outside of Paris. The hand knotted ‘Etude Ligne, 1941’ (2m x 3m) is taken from an original composition in pencil on paper, which was part of her last series of artworks. The neutral ground of the rug mimics the paper’s discolouration over time, and the curved and broken lines are accentuated with a slight lowering of pile height. The rug will be made to order with custom options available. 'Aubette 58’ (1.3m x 2m) has been developed from a 1926-27 gouache painting, composed with a graphic device - inspired by textile structure - using lines, squares and rectangles in punchy primary colours, here, blue, red, yellow on white and again utilising high/low pile heights. The artwork was made for Cafe de l'Aubette, an interiors project completed - without hierarchy - with her husband Hans-Jean Arp and Theo van Doesburg, founder of De Stijl. This design is available as part of CF Editions, which means it is kept stock and ready for immediate purchase through design retailers. Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889–1943), textile designer, architect, illustrator, sculptor, abstract artist, teacher, and magazine editor, refused to be confined to one discipline and pushed the boundaries between applied and fine arts. She was central to the pre-WWII European art scene, and a close follower of the Dada movement. Her far reaching practice covered textiles, painting, sculpture, applied arts, architecture, interior designer projects. During WWII, the Taeuber-Arps fled to south France along with other refugee artists, and lived in exile with Sonia Delaunay, Alberto Magnelli and others. Her prodigious output was recognised in the Tate Modern Retrospective exhibition (2021), and demonstrated her position as one of the most important avant-garde abstract artists of the C20. The Fondation Arp, decreed a «musée de France», is an artist foundation located in the studio of Jean Arp and Sophie Taeuber, dedicated to the dissemination and protection of their legacy.