Asger Jorn's Unpublished Writings Reveal a Polemicist and Theorist

A collection of previously unpublished French texts by Asger Jorn (1914-1973) showcases the Danish artist's role as a polemicist and theorist. Known for his involvement with the Cobra movement, surrealism, and situationism, Jorn worked across painting, engraving, sculpture, and ceramics. The writings include critiques, reflections, and correspondence, revealing his insistence on art's novelty and social purpose. He attacked stylistic followers like lettrist Maurice Lemaître and settled scores with surrealist 'penguins.' Jorn's long engagement with architecture is highlighted, including his 1937 assistance to Le Corbusier on the Pavillon de l'Esprit Nouveau. The texts also analyze Nordic art and compare socialist realism with Pollock's abstraction. Edited by Paul Ardenne, the volume underscores Jorn's belief that art must be preceded by discourse.