Artist: Arman, French (1929 - 2005) Title: Diabelli Variations Year: 1980 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 150, AP 30 Image Size: 39 x 25.5 inches Size: 45 in. x 30.5 in. (114.3 cm x 77.47 cm) The French Armand Pierre Fernandez, born in 1928, is one of the most important international object artists and a co-founder and member of the Nouveau Réalisme. He studied at the Ecole Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Nice from 1946 to 1949 and then continued his studies for two years at the Ecole du Louvre in Paris. An acquaintance with Yves Klein led to the idea of organising joint happenings and events, which the two artists realised in 1953. Armand's neo-dadaist 'Cachets' (stamp prints) of 1955, and later the 'Allures' (prints made with objects dipped into paint) and the 'Coupés' (cut-up objects) followed by the 'Colères' (objects which were smashed and then mounted) were still influenced by Kurt Schwitters. When the last letter of his name was accidentally forgotten on a catalogue cover in 1958, he decided to keep this spelling.