“We should describe ourselves as animals, that is our way,” penned Danish artist and CoBrA cofounder Asger Jorn (1914-1973) in a letter to Constant. Jorn’s work, presented here with contextual information from editors Axel Heil and Roberto Ohrt, reflects his fascination with “the animal,” raw instinct, and the power of nature. See, for example, his brightly painted, almost childlike Animaux Animé(s) (1944/46) and his dark and moody Untitled (Phoenix) (1949/1950) for two starkly different variations on the theme. Throughout this collection, Jorn’s playful energy and irreverence are apparent. His Untitled (Faces in a Head) (c. 1960) is a jumble of colors designed to confuse, shock, and challenge the viewer, evading any simple answers as to what the work “means.”
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