La Cage des Temps (1951)

Dated 1951, "La Cage des Temps" is an artwork by Yves Tanguy. Context for 1951: The range of materials widened to include acrylic paint, screen printing, and mixed media. After 1945 the centre of Western art activity shifted to New York, where Abstract Expressionism was followed by Pop art, Minimalism, and Conceptual art. Abstract, a short history: Abstract art moves away from depicting recognisable objects and relies on colour, line, shape, and surface instead. Movements of later decades, including Abstract Expressionism and geometric abstraction, carried non-representational ideas into new scales and materials. The catalogue places it in Abstract. The format is landscape.

On onlly.art "La Cage des Temps" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Abstract compositions work through rhythm, colour, and form, which makes them especially effective in modern interiors and in spaces that need a strong visual accent without a literal narrative. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour.

French, 1900–1955

If you like the visual language of Yves Tanguy, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.