Constantin Brancusi: The Essence of Things

by Matthew Gale (Editor), Carmen Giménez, J. Wood

Constantin Brancusi (18761957) was a towering figure among early 20th-century modern artists. Born in Romania, he worked in Paris for more than 50 years, but he became renowned worldwide. This new book, published to accompany an exhibition at Tate Modern, London, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, shows why his work, in which figurative elements were refined into ever purer, near-abstract forms, was so important in the development of modern sculpture.
This splendid book focuses on some 40 works that represent the essence of Brancusi's art. Essays focus on the themes and series in his work and the use of carving, as opposed to modeling in clay, that set him apart from his contemporaries. A selection of Brancusi's aphorisms, illustrated with photographs of the artist's studio, complete this thorough and up-to-date assessment of one of the 20th century's greatest artists.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2004