Arman – Original Signed Lithograph – Accumulation of Songye Kifwebe Masks 1998

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Original lithograph signed by Arman (Armand Fernandez) – Accumulation of Songye Kifwebe Masks, 1998, from the portfolio Les Unités Plénières. This rare 29.92 x 22.04 inches (76 x 56 cm) print, in very good condition and sold unframed, perfectly illustrates the signature accumulation technique of the Franco-American artist, a major figure of Nouveau Réalisme.

Arman, owner of one of the most important private collections of African art, transforms emblematic tribal masks of the Songye people (Democratic Republic of Congo) into a saturated and hypnotic composition. Recognizable by their deep striations, their half-closed, bulging eyes, and their rectangular mouths, these Kifwebe masks – traditionally used in initiation rites and funerals – lose their ritual function to become graphic “units” repeated ad infinitum.

Through this frenetic accumulation, Arman extracts the sacred object from its ancestral context, merging it into a modern, serial language where dense textures, superimposed black inks, and earthy tones fuse African ritual with the artist’s pop and realistic vision. A powerful, timeless, and highly collectable work that celebrates the formal force of cultural icons.

Shipping:
– The artwork is carefully wrapped in tissue paper, rolled, and placed in a rigid tube, which is then inserted into a protective cardboard box.
– A tracking number is provided to guarantee safe delivery.
– A signature is required upon delivery.

Additional photos available at top left. Feel free to check them out! Click on one to see an enlarged, close-up view!

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