Origins & Early Life

Sophie Henriette Gertrud Taeuber-Arp (; 19 January 1889 – 14 January 1943) was a Swiss artist, painter, sculptor, textile designer, furniture and interior designer, architect, and dancer. Born in 1889 in Davos and raised in Trogen, Switzerland, she attended a trade school in St. Gallen and, later, art schools in Germany, before moving back to Switzerland during the First World War. At an exhibition in 1915, she met for the first time the German-French artist Jean Arp, whom she married shortly after.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

It was during these years that they became associated with the Dada movement, which emerged in 1916, and Taeuber-Arp's most famous works, such as Dada Head (Tête Dada, 1920), date from these years. They moved to France in 1926, where they stayed until the invasion of France during the Second World War, at the event of which they went back to Switzerland. In 1943, she died in an accident with a leaking gas stove. Despite having largely been overlooked since her death, she is considered one of the most important artists of concrete art and geometric abstraction of the 20th century. Born in Davos, Switzerland, Sophie Henriette Gertrud Taeuber was the fifth child...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anna Akhmatova — Contemporary (Born in 1889) (1889): A seminal Russian poet whose work chronicled the trauma of the Soviet era.
• Anne Lee Guinness — Contemporary (Died in 1889) (1889): Irish philanthropist known for establishing nursing homes and supporting the poor in Dublin.
• António de Oliveira Salazar — Contemporary (Born in 1889) (1889): Portuguese academic and economist who established the authoritarian Estado Novo regime.
• Alvy Ray Smith — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering computer scientist and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios.
• Antonio Inoki — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Japanese wrestler, martial artist, and political figure.
• Arthur Ashe — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering American tennis star, celebrated for his skill and activism.
• Abbas the Great — Shared historical date (01-19 · Died) (1629): Fifth Safavid Shah of Iran, considered one of the greatest rulers in Iranian history.
• Anthony Franciosa — Shared historical date (01-19 · Died) (2006): Versatile American actor known for stage breakthroughs and film success.
• Albert Schweitzer — Shared historical date (01-14 · Born) (1875): German polymath renowned for theology, music, and 'Reverence for Life'
• Alfred Tarski — Shared historical date (01-14 · Born) (1901): Pioneering logician known for model theory and the formal concept of truth.
• 1889 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1889
• January 19 (01-19) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 19
• 1943 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1943
• January 14 (01-14) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 14