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Brancusi contre États-Unis
1927, un procès ubuesque se tient à New York. Avocats, experts et artistes s'opposent à la barre, la cour devra trancher : les sculptures de Constantin Brancusi doivent-elles être considérées comme des oeuvres d'art ?. Pendant ce temps, à Paris, et comme en écho, le sculpteur et ses amis doutent. Le travail de Brancusi est-il à la hauteur du génie de l'artisanat et de l'industrie ? Le nouveau continent peut-il vraiment jouer le rôle central dans l'art moderne que l'Histoire semble désormais lui imposer ?.
128 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2023
3 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 17, 2023
This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a 1926 court case in which the judge had to decide if Brancusi's bird sculptor was "art". The discussion of "what is art" reminded me of that old legal adage on pornography "I know it when I see it."
This book is a work of art. It was lovely to spend an afternoon learning about a historical event that I'd never heard of before. It took me a while to get into it, as I was a little distracted by the dialogue. I found the text a little prosaic and the font itself looked hastily typed in in contrast to the thoughtfulness of the art.
I'm already thinking of family members I would recommend this to and how it could translate to a conversation in class about how we decide if something is "literature/literary."
This book is a work of art. It was lovely to spend an afternoon learning about a historical event that I'd never heard of before. It took me a while to get into it, as I was a little distracted by the dialogue. I found the text a little prosaic and the font itself looked hastily typed in in contrast to the thoughtfulness of the art.
I'm already thinking of family members I would recommend this to and how it could translate to a conversation in class about how we decide if something is "literature/literary."
July 14, 2023
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This graphic novel is about a trial to determine if a particular sculpture is considered art or not. I was not familiar with this court case at all and it was extremely interesting to read about. The reason I picked this up is because I had a feeling I would love the art style (checks out). Would recommend this.
This graphic novel is about a trial to determine if a particular sculpture is considered art or not. I was not familiar with this court case at all and it was extremely interesting to read about. The reason I picked this up is because I had a feeling I would love the art style (checks out). Would recommend this.
April 9, 2023
4.3/5
- Thank you to the author and the publisher for putting this title as a "read now" on NetGalley. -
What a nice way to learn a piece of history.
I honestly never came across the history of this trial but I found it so interesting to learn of it in this way.
Every time Europe Comics comes out with something very original and different for us, bravo to the team!
This time we face something that happened in real life and it actually came out pretty good.
The art of this graphic novel was pretty abstract, just like the matter of the whole trial, and I found it very spot on, it was easy and minimal.
The whole story was developed in a short but complete way, letting us understand very clearly what happened. I liked as well the different font used when it came to the specific part of the trial. It looked like we were following it from a different angle than the one used to follow the main protagonist of this story.
It was a very interesting and informative read!
- Thank you to the author and the publisher for putting this title as a "read now" on NetGalley. -
What a nice way to learn a piece of history.
I honestly never came across the history of this trial but I found it so interesting to learn of it in this way.
Every time Europe Comics comes out with something very original and different for us, bravo to the team!
This time we face something that happened in real life and it actually came out pretty good.
The art of this graphic novel was pretty abstract, just like the matter of the whole trial, and I found it very spot on, it was easy and minimal.
The whole story was developed in a short but complete way, letting us understand very clearly what happened. I liked as well the different font used when it came to the specific part of the trial. It looked like we were following it from a different angle than the one used to follow the main protagonist of this story.
It was a very interesting and informative read!
May 2, 2024
Stunning - just finished it with a lump in my throat at the beautiful energy and simplicity of Brancusi's thought and work 'in space'.
It is a masterpiece of comic book art that really should be translated into English and sold in every museum which has a Brancusi.
Brilliant author -artist - draughtsman Arnaud Nebbache has managed to communicate something profound which no other medium could express so well about Brancusi's art of space.
What a story too! Brancusi's art versus the 'noise' of the US court, journalists, critics and even the theories of his supportive contemporaries - all so originally and cleverly depicted with blocks of limited colour, line and shadow.
Amazed at how expressively he shows Calder's famous Circus and the group watching it - and Brancusi's quietly stunned reaction to Calder's novelty, taking it all in, as he later sits in a Jazz bar, looking at the cork of a bottle as dancers move in the space around him.
The original look of the artwork first drew my admiration enough to want buy this book on a whim and so glad I did.
It is a masterpiece of comic book art that really should be translated into English and sold in every museum which has a Brancusi.
Brilliant author -artist - draughtsman Arnaud Nebbache has managed to communicate something profound which no other medium could express so well about Brancusi's art of space.
What a story too! Brancusi's art versus the 'noise' of the US court, journalists, critics and even the theories of his supportive contemporaries - all so originally and cleverly depicted with blocks of limited colour, line and shadow.
Amazed at how expressively he shows Calder's famous Circus and the group watching it - and Brancusi's quietly stunned reaction to Calder's novelty, taking it all in, as he later sits in a Jazz bar, looking at the cork of a bottle as dancers move in the space around him.
The original look of the artwork first drew my admiration enough to want buy this book on a whim and so glad I did.
October 24, 2025
très très cool cette synthèse efficace d'un sujet dense + le dessin vectoriel je le mange
March 28, 2023
Arnaud Nebbache revient avec brio sur cet épisode ubuesque qui opposa le sculpteur Constantin Brancusi à la ville de New-York en 1927 forçant la justice américaine à repréciser ce qu’est une œuvre d’art.
À l’occasion de la préparation de l’exposition Brummer, Brancusi fait voyager, par bateau, une vingtaine de sculptures dont L’oiseau en bronze aux alentours d’octobre 1926. Les douanes américaines considèrent que c’est un objet utilitaire et lui réclament des droits d’entrée sur le pays. Déjà exposées à l’Armory Show en 1913, les sculptures de Brancusi ont déjà beaucoup de succès. Seulement, depuis plus de dix ans, ses œuvres deviennent de plus en plus abstraites.
Seulement, le sculpteur, âgé d’à peu près cinquante ans, ne va pas s’en laisser conter. Refusant de payer, il passe à l’attaque, aidé de son ami Marcel Duchamp, et intente un procès à la ville de New-York.
Originaire de Roumanie, et voulant compléter sa formation, Constantin Brancusi est arrivé en France à pied vers 1905. Après avoir suivi les cours à l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts et être entré à l’atelier de Rodin, il s’affranchit des différentes influences en composant son Baiser, sculpture funéraire qui le fera connaître du monde entier.
L’Oiseau en Bronze mesure 1, 35m de haut, de forme fuselée et polie comme un miroir. Le procès permettra de redéfinir ce qu’est une œuvre d’art.
Arnaud Nebbache, avec des retours en arrières, un dessin épuré, des angles particuliers mis en avant sur cette affaire, rend parfaitement l’esprit obtus de la partie adverse, les affres vécues par le sculpteur, les liens étroits entre Marcel Duchamp et Brancusi, etc.
La suite ici
À l’occasion de la préparation de l’exposition Brummer, Brancusi fait voyager, par bateau, une vingtaine de sculptures dont L’oiseau en bronze aux alentours d’octobre 1926. Les douanes américaines considèrent que c’est un objet utilitaire et lui réclament des droits d’entrée sur le pays. Déjà exposées à l’Armory Show en 1913, les sculptures de Brancusi ont déjà beaucoup de succès. Seulement, depuis plus de dix ans, ses œuvres deviennent de plus en plus abstraites.
Seulement, le sculpteur, âgé d’à peu près cinquante ans, ne va pas s’en laisser conter. Refusant de payer, il passe à l’attaque, aidé de son ami Marcel Duchamp, et intente un procès à la ville de New-York.
Originaire de Roumanie, et voulant compléter sa formation, Constantin Brancusi est arrivé en France à pied vers 1905. Après avoir suivi les cours à l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts et être entré à l’atelier de Rodin, il s’affranchit des différentes influences en composant son Baiser, sculpture funéraire qui le fera connaître du monde entier.
L’Oiseau en Bronze mesure 1, 35m de haut, de forme fuselée et polie comme un miroir. Le procès permettra de redéfinir ce qu’est une œuvre d’art.
Arnaud Nebbache, avec des retours en arrières, un dessin épuré, des angles particuliers mis en avant sur cette affaire, rend parfaitement l’esprit obtus de la partie adverse, les affres vécues par le sculpteur, les liens étroits entre Marcel Duchamp et Brancusi, etc.
La suite ici
April 27, 2023
This was a book that I just came across on NetGalley and I had only vaguely heard his name somewhere. But wow, did this book grip me.
The story revolves around the case against Brancusi and his art - to determine if his sculpture is “art”. What I loved was the parallel between the court proceedings in United States (so well portrayed) and Brancusi faraway waiting for a decision and pondering what all of this really means. And the beginning of the book - Brancusi being taught by Rodin - set a good context to what is to follow in the book.
About the art in the book: Stunning, the shadow work in the book is so stunning. You can keep looking at a panel for minutes on end.
This book made me look at Brancusi’s works and I would definitely read more about these court proceedings in a graphic novel format too. Highly recommend it to everyone. Thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the free copy.
The story revolves around the case against Brancusi and his art - to determine if his sculpture is “art”. What I loved was the parallel between the court proceedings in United States (so well portrayed) and Brancusi faraway waiting for a decision and pondering what all of this really means. And the beginning of the book - Brancusi being taught by Rodin - set a good context to what is to follow in the book.
About the art in the book: Stunning, the shadow work in the book is so stunning. You can keep looking at a panel for minutes on end.
This book made me look at Brancusi’s works and I would definitely read more about these court proceedings in a graphic novel format too. Highly recommend it to everyone. Thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the free copy.
February 13, 2023
Le roman graphique débute en 1926 , le sculpteur d’origine roumaine Constantin Brancusi , ancien élève de Rodin , envoie une œuvre avant-gardiste aux Etats- Unis .
Immédiatement cette œuvre trop peu conventionnelle n’est pas reconnue comme œuvre d’art , Brancusi doit payer une lourde taxe aux douanes américaines, son œuvre étant classée comme un simple objet utilitaire.
Contre toute attente , le sculpteur intente un procès .
Arnaud Lebbache nous raconte l’histoire de ce procès avec talent , il nous fait réfléchir sur la notion d’art , à cette révolution de l’art moderne , à cette bataille juridique où les experts s’affrontent , qu’est ce qui définit une œuvre d’art , qu’en est - il de l’imagination , de l’art abstrait .
Une très belle lecture , passionnante , à mettre entre toutes les mains .
Un grand merci à #netgalley et aux éditions Dargaud .
Immédiatement cette œuvre trop peu conventionnelle n’est pas reconnue comme œuvre d’art , Brancusi doit payer une lourde taxe aux douanes américaines, son œuvre étant classée comme un simple objet utilitaire.
Contre toute attente , le sculpteur intente un procès .
Arnaud Lebbache nous raconte l’histoire de ce procès avec talent , il nous fait réfléchir sur la notion d’art , à cette révolution de l’art moderne , à cette bataille juridique où les experts s’affrontent , qu’est ce qui définit une œuvre d’art , qu’en est - il de l’imagination , de l’art abstrait .
Une très belle lecture , passionnante , à mettre entre toutes les mains .
Un grand merci à #netgalley et aux éditions Dargaud .
September 2, 2023
En refermant cette BD je me suis souvenue de ce reproche, à peine voilé, de Constantin Brancusi, à ses contemporains :
« Vous ne pouvez, hélas, pas encore vous rendre compte [de la valeur] de ce que je vous laisse » (Nici nu vă puteți încă da seama de ceea ce vă las eu).
Dans ce plaidoyer pour la liberté d’expression artistique, Arnaud Nebbache se montre très habile à condenser la vie de Brancusi, les préoccupations de son époque et le procès historique. Il s’est très bien documenté et a opté pour un graphisme à mon sens très original, en tout cas très personnel.
Comme il le déclare au journal L’Express, il utilise « une technique numérique pouvant s’apparenter au pochoir et à la sérigraphie par les quatre aplats de couleurs choisis pour guider chaque séquence du récit ».
Le dessinateur précise encore : « Pour rendre le procès moins froid, j’ai pris la liberté de le faire vivre à travers les yeux et la main de Marcel Duchamp ; on sait qu’il joua un rôle essentiel de médiateur mais rien n’indique qu’il a assisté à l’intégralité des débats ou en a réalisé des croquis ».
J’ai beaucoup apprécié le début de la BD, l’entrée en matière, avec ses renvois au passé de Brancusi : page 11, une belle référence, dans la bouche d’Edward Steinchen (« Dis surtout qu’il te fait de l’ombre ! ») à la célèbre phrase prononcée par Brancusi au sujet de son ancien maître Auguste Rodin : « Il ne pousse rien sous les grands arbres » et pages 23-25, la présence d’une autre artiste d’origine roumaine, Lizica Codréano.
Un véritable coup de cœur pour cette BD, que j’ai un peu boudée au début, à cause de son graphisme, incompréhensible lorsqu’on juge sur un simple échantillon de quelques cases.
Comme la plupart d’entre vous le savent, je suis aussi d’origine roumaine et j’aime établir des liens culturels. Cette fois-ci je vais simplement citer Serge Fauchereau, qui écrit dans son livre Sur les pas de Brancusi (p. 57) :
« Toute sa vie Brancusi a sculpté des oiseaux et tous dérivent plastiquement de ce premier oiseau Măistra (1911) par l’intermédiaire des « Oiseaux en vol » jusqu’au « Grand Coq » auquel il travaillait encore à la veille de sa mort. […] La Măiastra à laquelle renvoie Brancusi est un oiseau particulier des contes et légendes de Roumanie […]. « La Măiastra ou l’oiseau-fée » version autrefois recueillie par Petre Ispirescu est peut-être la plus connue : un empereur a fait édifier un magnifique monastère mais malheureusement aucun architecte ne peut empêcher la tour de l’église de s’écouler. Un rêve lui révèle que seul un oiseau-fée y parviendrait. Ses trois fils partent tour à tour en quête de l’oiseau magique. Les deux aînés finissent par amener l’oiseau ainsi qu’une jeune fille attachée à son service : « Chacun admirait la beauté de cet oiseau : son plumage qui avait des milliers et de milliers de couleurs brillait comme un miroir en plein soleil ». La tour ne s’effondre plus mais le bel oiseau ne chante pas, ce qui plonge tout le monde dans la tristesse. Un jour il se met à chanter merveilleusement devant un jeune berger. Dès que ce berger s’éloigne, son chant cesse. Au terme d’un récit riche en rebondissements et en métamorphoses il s’avère que le pâtre est le plus jeune fils de l’empereur massacré par ses frères. Grâce à une pomme magique la jeune fille qui sert l’oiseau éclaircit toute l’histoire. Justice est faite tout finit par un mariage : elle épouse le jeune prince ».
Marielle Tabart, dans son Brancusi, l’inventeur de la sculpture moderne, dénombre pas moins de 27 variations sur le thème de l’oiseau.
Pages 107 et suivantes de la BD, j’ai cru qu’allusion était faite à cette légende sur les pouvoirs de l’artiste.
Je crois avec ferveur en la parenté de cette légende populaire avec le projet artistique de Brancusi.
C’est encore Serge Fouchereau qui traduit ce poème de Lucian Blaga (cf. p. 61) :
« L’oiseau sacré
(incarné en or par le sculpteur Brancusi)
Dans un vent que nul n’a levée
Orion hiératique te bénit
en pleurant sur toi
sa haute géométrie sacrée.
Autrefois tu as vécu au fond des mers
et tu as frôlé le feu du soleil.
Dans les forêts flottantes tu poussais
de longs cris sur les eaux originelles.
Es-tu oiseau ou cloche à travers le monde,
créature qu’on dirait calice
ou chanson d’or survolant
notre terreur des énigmes mortes ?
Tu perdures dans l’ombre comme les contes ;
à la flûte invisible du vent
tu joues pour ceux qui boivent leur sommeil
aux pavots noirs souterrains.
La lumière de tes yeux verts est pour nous
comme le phosphore qui s’écaille aux ossements anciens
à écouter les révélations sans paroles
sous l’herbe du ciel, tu prends ton vol.
Depuis le ciel voûté de ton zénith
tu déchiffres tous les mystères des profondeurs.
Prends ton essor sans fin
mais ne dis jamais ce que tu as vu ».
Grâce sois rendue aux mains de Brancusi, mais aussi à celles d’Arnaud Nebbache, qui lui rend ici, un juste hommage.
« Vous ne pouvez, hélas, pas encore vous rendre compte [de la valeur] de ce que je vous laisse » (Nici nu vă puteți încă da seama de ceea ce vă las eu).
Dans ce plaidoyer pour la liberté d’expression artistique, Arnaud Nebbache se montre très habile à condenser la vie de Brancusi, les préoccupations de son époque et le procès historique. Il s’est très bien documenté et a opté pour un graphisme à mon sens très original, en tout cas très personnel.
Comme il le déclare au journal L’Express, il utilise « une technique numérique pouvant s’apparenter au pochoir et à la sérigraphie par les quatre aplats de couleurs choisis pour guider chaque séquence du récit ».
Le dessinateur précise encore : « Pour rendre le procès moins froid, j’ai pris la liberté de le faire vivre à travers les yeux et la main de Marcel Duchamp ; on sait qu’il joua un rôle essentiel de médiateur mais rien n’indique qu’il a assisté à l’intégralité des débats ou en a réalisé des croquis ».
J’ai beaucoup apprécié le début de la BD, l’entrée en matière, avec ses renvois au passé de Brancusi : page 11, une belle référence, dans la bouche d’Edward Steinchen (« Dis surtout qu’il te fait de l’ombre ! ») à la célèbre phrase prononcée par Brancusi au sujet de son ancien maître Auguste Rodin : « Il ne pousse rien sous les grands arbres » et pages 23-25, la présence d’une autre artiste d’origine roumaine, Lizica Codréano.
Un véritable coup de cœur pour cette BD, que j’ai un peu boudée au début, à cause de son graphisme, incompréhensible lorsqu’on juge sur un simple échantillon de quelques cases.
Comme la plupart d’entre vous le savent, je suis aussi d’origine roumaine et j’aime établir des liens culturels. Cette fois-ci je vais simplement citer Serge Fauchereau, qui écrit dans son livre Sur les pas de Brancusi (p. 57) :
« Toute sa vie Brancusi a sculpté des oiseaux et tous dérivent plastiquement de ce premier oiseau Măistra (1911) par l’intermédiaire des « Oiseaux en vol » jusqu’au « Grand Coq » auquel il travaillait encore à la veille de sa mort. […] La Măiastra à laquelle renvoie Brancusi est un oiseau particulier des contes et légendes de Roumanie […]. « La Măiastra ou l’oiseau-fée » version autrefois recueillie par Petre Ispirescu est peut-être la plus connue : un empereur a fait édifier un magnifique monastère mais malheureusement aucun architecte ne peut empêcher la tour de l’église de s’écouler. Un rêve lui révèle que seul un oiseau-fée y parviendrait. Ses trois fils partent tour à tour en quête de l’oiseau magique. Les deux aînés finissent par amener l’oiseau ainsi qu’une jeune fille attachée à son service : « Chacun admirait la beauté de cet oiseau : son plumage qui avait des milliers et de milliers de couleurs brillait comme un miroir en plein soleil ». La tour ne s’effondre plus mais le bel oiseau ne chante pas, ce qui plonge tout le monde dans la tristesse. Un jour il se met à chanter merveilleusement devant un jeune berger. Dès que ce berger s’éloigne, son chant cesse. Au terme d’un récit riche en rebondissements et en métamorphoses il s’avère que le pâtre est le plus jeune fils de l’empereur massacré par ses frères. Grâce à une pomme magique la jeune fille qui sert l’oiseau éclaircit toute l’histoire. Justice est faite tout finit par un mariage : elle épouse le jeune prince ».
Marielle Tabart, dans son Brancusi, l’inventeur de la sculpture moderne, dénombre pas moins de 27 variations sur le thème de l’oiseau.
Pages 107 et suivantes de la BD, j’ai cru qu’allusion était faite à cette légende sur les pouvoirs de l’artiste.
Je crois avec ferveur en la parenté de cette légende populaire avec le projet artistique de Brancusi.
C’est encore Serge Fouchereau qui traduit ce poème de Lucian Blaga (cf. p. 61) :
« L’oiseau sacré
(incarné en or par le sculpteur Brancusi)
Dans un vent que nul n’a levée
Orion hiératique te bénit
en pleurant sur toi
sa haute géométrie sacrée.
Autrefois tu as vécu au fond des mers
et tu as frôlé le feu du soleil.
Dans les forêts flottantes tu poussais
de longs cris sur les eaux originelles.
Es-tu oiseau ou cloche à travers le monde,
créature qu’on dirait calice
ou chanson d’or survolant
notre terreur des énigmes mortes ?
Tu perdures dans l’ombre comme les contes ;
à la flûte invisible du vent
tu joues pour ceux qui boivent leur sommeil
aux pavots noirs souterrains.
La lumière de tes yeux verts est pour nous
comme le phosphore qui s’écaille aux ossements anciens
à écouter les révélations sans paroles
sous l’herbe du ciel, tu prends ton vol.
Depuis le ciel voûté de ton zénith
tu déchiffres tous les mystères des profondeurs.
Prends ton essor sans fin
mais ne dis jamais ce que tu as vu ».
Grâce sois rendue aux mains de Brancusi, mais aussi à celles d’Arnaud Nebbache, qui lui rend ici, un juste hommage.
August 30, 2023
L'auteur, l'album (126 pages, 2023) :
C'est le bouquin de Sophie Brocas (Le baiser) qui nous avait mis sur la piste de cette histoire incroyable : le procès du sculpteur Constantin Brancusi contre les États-Unis au sujet de droits de douane sur une de ses sculptures ...
Et c'est Arnaud Nebbache (illustrateur et professeur d'art) qui s'y colle pour retracer en images ce procès historique ...
On aime :
❤️ On se passionne pour le débat ouvert par ce procès : qu'est-ce qui fait une oeuvre d'art ? Son caractère unique (oui, mais il y a les moulages successifs), la main de l'artiste (oui, mais il y a un atelier de fonderie), le jugement des pairs (oui, mais il y a des réfractaires à un nouveau style), la beauté contemplée, le plaisir ressenti (oui, mais tout cela prête à interprétation) ...
Et puis c'est aussi une époque où art, artisanat et industrie se télescopent : outre Brancusi, c'est l'époque de Fernand Léger et d'Alexandre Calder par exemple.
❤️ On apprécie les croquis supposés de Marcel Duchamp que l'artiste dessine pendant le procès pour tenir informé son ami Brancusi resté à Paris : voilà un moyen astucieux pour retracer de façon vivante les débats de la justice.
le contexte :
Dans les années 1920, Marcel Duchamp organise à NY une exposition des sculptures de Brancusi.
À leur arrivée par bateau, les "objets" sont taxés par les douanes US comme "produits manufacturés".
L'une des sculptures, L'oiseau un moulage de bronze poli quasi abstrait, est prise comme pièce à conviction et s'ouvre alors en 1927 ce fameux procès pour lui faire reconnaître le statut d'oeuvre d'art ...
L'intrigue :
Le dessin de Nebbache pourra dérouter au premier abord mais on reconnaîtra qu'il s'accorde plutôt bien avec son sujet : l'espace des oeuvres d'art et le mouvement du sculpteur, ...
En bon professeur d'art, l'auteur prend d'ailleurs tout son temps pour imaginer et dessiner tout le long processus de création qui aura conduit l'artiste (le plus abstrait des sculpteurs figuratifs) à cette forme aboutie, qui ne ressemblait plus vraiment à un oiseau mais qui voulait saisir l'esprit du mouvement, l'envol de l'oiseau.
C'est un choix de scénario judicieux qui permet de mettre le lecteur dans les meilleures conditions pour apprécier tout le sens du procès qui va se dérouler.
Laissons finalement le dernier mot au juge Waite avec une sentence qui fera date dans l'histoire de l'art :
[...] Une école d'art dite moderne s'est développée dont les tenants tentent de représenter des idées abstraites plutôt que d'imiter des objets naturels. Que nous soyons ou non en sympathie avec ces idées d'avant-garde et les écoles qui les incarnent, nous estimons que leur existence comme leur influence sur le monde de l'art sont des faits que les tribunaux reconnaissent et doivent prendre en compte.
Le lendemain du 26 novembre 1928, la presse US ironise : It's a bird !
Pour celles et ceux qui aiment l'histoire de l'art.
Lien : https://bmr-mam.blogspot.com
C'est le bouquin de Sophie Brocas (Le baiser) qui nous avait mis sur la piste de cette histoire incroyable : le procès du sculpteur Constantin Brancusi contre les États-Unis au sujet de droits de douane sur une de ses sculptures ...
Et c'est Arnaud Nebbache (illustrateur et professeur d'art) qui s'y colle pour retracer en images ce procès historique ...
On aime :
❤️ On se passionne pour le débat ouvert par ce procès : qu'est-ce qui fait une oeuvre d'art ? Son caractère unique (oui, mais il y a les moulages successifs), la main de l'artiste (oui, mais il y a un atelier de fonderie), le jugement des pairs (oui, mais il y a des réfractaires à un nouveau style), la beauté contemplée, le plaisir ressenti (oui, mais tout cela prête à interprétation) ...
Et puis c'est aussi une époque où art, artisanat et industrie se télescopent : outre Brancusi, c'est l'époque de Fernand Léger et d'Alexandre Calder par exemple.
❤️ On apprécie les croquis supposés de Marcel Duchamp que l'artiste dessine pendant le procès pour tenir informé son ami Brancusi resté à Paris : voilà un moyen astucieux pour retracer de façon vivante les débats de la justice.
le contexte :
Dans les années 1920, Marcel Duchamp organise à NY une exposition des sculptures de Brancusi.
À leur arrivée par bateau, les "objets" sont taxés par les douanes US comme "produits manufacturés".
L'une des sculptures, L'oiseau un moulage de bronze poli quasi abstrait, est prise comme pièce à conviction et s'ouvre alors en 1927 ce fameux procès pour lui faire reconnaître le statut d'oeuvre d'art ...
L'intrigue :
Le dessin de Nebbache pourra dérouter au premier abord mais on reconnaîtra qu'il s'accorde plutôt bien avec son sujet : l'espace des oeuvres d'art et le mouvement du sculpteur, ...
En bon professeur d'art, l'auteur prend d'ailleurs tout son temps pour imaginer et dessiner tout le long processus de création qui aura conduit l'artiste (le plus abstrait des sculpteurs figuratifs) à cette forme aboutie, qui ne ressemblait plus vraiment à un oiseau mais qui voulait saisir l'esprit du mouvement, l'envol de l'oiseau.
C'est un choix de scénario judicieux qui permet de mettre le lecteur dans les meilleures conditions pour apprécier tout le sens du procès qui va se dérouler.
Laissons finalement le dernier mot au juge Waite avec une sentence qui fera date dans l'histoire de l'art :
[...] Une école d'art dite moderne s'est développée dont les tenants tentent de représenter des idées abstraites plutôt que d'imiter des objets naturels. Que nous soyons ou non en sympathie avec ces idées d'avant-garde et les écoles qui les incarnent, nous estimons que leur existence comme leur influence sur le monde de l'art sont des faits que les tribunaux reconnaissent et doivent prendre en compte.
Le lendemain du 26 novembre 1928, la presse US ironise : It's a bird !
Pour celles et ceux qui aiment l'histoire de l'art.
Lien : https://bmr-mam.blogspot.com
April 8, 2023
At first I was unsure where to place Brancusi v. United States by Arnaud Nebbache. We don't often get biographical graphic novels that are as stylistic as this. Honestly, I was a little jarred by the extreme contrast in the color blocking and the lack of more graphical lines most readers have come accustomed to as of the rise of the comics, manga, and other more print focused styles. The further I read the more I saw the purpose in Nebbache's stylistic choices. The art styles invokes the industrialist illustrations of the era, and help to highlight Brancusi's specific style of sculpture. Which is why it is so jarring to see the older style sculptures drawn in this style. It only helps to highlight the artistic beauty of the sculpture in question "Bird in Flight". Having grown up in an era where Brancusi is seen as a father of Modernism, it is kind of hard to wrap one's head around the idea that at one point his sculpture's were not widely regarded as art.
There are two aspects to the book. One aspect is an exploration of the place art was in at the turn of the modern era. I think this aspect comes off as more abstract, and it isn't my personal favorite form of graphical novels. I prefer my graphic novels to focus on character, art and dynamism rather than the stories themselves being abstract. The other aspect to this book is the trial. I really enjoyed the way the trial was shown. I think it was a wonderful idea to frame the trail in letters from Brancusi's friend while he was working. I think it helped keep it to the noteworthy moments with giving the need to get into needless scenes that could plague other trial renditions. One way the trial aspect flourishes and the exploration of art falters is that it fully fleshes out the goals of the characters. One side is trying to put a wedge between art and Brancusi's work while the other is highlighting the artistic aspects of his work. This helps the book because it drives the purpose of Brancusi's work home; whereas, the general exploration of where Brancusi fits into the history of art feels a little stunted due to the fact that I don't actually think it arrives at a conclusion. It seems to point to Brancusi's work as being abstract which by modern view it really isn't. Brancusi's work is Modern. It does imitate life just not in the way that the world was accustomed to at the time.
Brancusi v. United States is a beautifully artistic biography about a less talked about point in art history. It may not be revolutionary but you'll come away with the feeling that Brancusi definitely was.
I was provided with a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are two aspects to the book. One aspect is an exploration of the place art was in at the turn of the modern era. I think this aspect comes off as more abstract, and it isn't my personal favorite form of graphical novels. I prefer my graphic novels to focus on character, art and dynamism rather than the stories themselves being abstract. The other aspect to this book is the trial. I really enjoyed the way the trial was shown. I think it was a wonderful idea to frame the trail in letters from Brancusi's friend while he was working. I think it helped keep it to the noteworthy moments with giving the need to get into needless scenes that could plague other trial renditions. One way the trial aspect flourishes and the exploration of art falters is that it fully fleshes out the goals of the characters. One side is trying to put a wedge between art and Brancusi's work while the other is highlighting the artistic aspects of his work. This helps the book because it drives the purpose of Brancusi's work home; whereas, the general exploration of where Brancusi fits into the history of art feels a little stunted due to the fact that I don't actually think it arrives at a conclusion. It seems to point to Brancusi's work as being abstract which by modern view it really isn't. Brancusi's work is Modern. It does imitate life just not in the way that the world was accustomed to at the time.
Brancusi v. United States is a beautifully artistic biography about a less talked about point in art history. It may not be revolutionary but you'll come away with the feeling that Brancusi definitely was.
I was provided with a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was certainly an interesting read. I picked this graphic novel, mostly because I had never heard of the Brancusi v. United States case. I have little to no knowledge of modern art and its movements, so it's not surprising. It was an interesting look into art history. It taught me some of the arguments of what some would count as art and what others would not. What are the elements needed for something to be considered "art"? I think this would be an excellent first step into introducing someone to the Modern Art movement of the 1920s. However, this lost stars because of the art. (The irony, I know) The art style just wasn't that good. It was interesting in that it was unique. But the art style made it incredibly hard to tell what was going on. Establishing shots where the "camera" is pulled out to a wide shot made it almost impossible to perceive what was happening within the scene. Shots of buildings were slightly easier to understand, but crowd shots were a nightmare. If the panel wasn't a medium shot, focused on only a few people, the art felt muddy. There were also several scenes that had no text and just showed a character doing something. I was left confused because I had no idea what those scenes were attempting to convey because the art style made it so hard to comprehend. The scenes that were set during the court proceeding were the ones I liked the least. Those pages basically felt like a page with few half body pieces or simple faces surrounded by buckets of text. I understand that the text of the court scenes was technically the most important part of the scene, but they were a slog to read. Also, the choice of odd cursive font for those court scenes made it hard to read. This novel will definitely make me look more into the history of the Brancusi v. United States case because it is a genuinely interesting case. But the graphic novel itself isn't something I enjoyed reading. Having to struggle through both art style and font to try and comprehend what the story is trying to tell me just isn't an enjoyable experience.
This was certainly an interesting read. I picked this graphic novel, mostly because I had never heard of the Brancusi v. United States case. I have little to no knowledge of modern art and its movements, so it's not surprising. It was an interesting look into art history. It taught me some of the arguments of what some would count as art and what others would not. What are the elements needed for something to be considered "art"? I think this would be an excellent first step into introducing someone to the Modern Art movement of the 1920s. However, this lost stars because of the art. (The irony, I know) The art style just wasn't that good. It was interesting in that it was unique. But the art style made it incredibly hard to tell what was going on. Establishing shots where the "camera" is pulled out to a wide shot made it almost impossible to perceive what was happening within the scene. Shots of buildings were slightly easier to understand, but crowd shots were a nightmare. If the panel wasn't a medium shot, focused on only a few people, the art felt muddy. There were also several scenes that had no text and just showed a character doing something. I was left confused because I had no idea what those scenes were attempting to convey because the art style made it so hard to comprehend. The scenes that were set during the court proceeding were the ones I liked the least. Those pages basically felt like a page with few half body pieces or simple faces surrounded by buckets of text. I understand that the text of the court scenes was technically the most important part of the scene, but they were a slog to read. Also, the choice of odd cursive font for those court scenes made it hard to read. This novel will definitely make me look more into the history of the Brancusi v. United States case because it is a genuinely interesting case. But the graphic novel itself isn't something I enjoyed reading. Having to struggle through both art style and font to try and comprehend what the story is trying to tell me just isn't an enjoyable experience.
March 22, 2023
First off, my thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the e-ARC of this illustrated novel. The good news is, Europe Comics publishes titles that would otherwise never be published (sadly, this is Arnaud Nebbache's first title translated into English, he has more than a handful of other titles published in France). The bad news is they only provide access as ebooks - not the best way to read illustrated novels (which do tend to be published in oversized formats when printed).
I had never heard of this 1926 trial before. Abstract sculptor Brancusi's work was deemed utilitarian "Kitchen Utensils or Hospital Supplies" by US Customs, and was to be taxed at 40% to enter and be sold in the United States! Works of art came into the country tariff free. The US attorney tried to show one of his sold pieces was not art. Because it did not look like a bird (part of its title - "Bird In Space"), that it was not unique (he had made earlier versions, using different materials, although not for sale) and that it was mechanically produced (he did not pour the metal form, but when it was burnished and filed it was by him, by hand, and not by a machine).
A whole bunch of early 20th C Modernists appear here (especially Duchamp), and there is much discussion on what makes an object a piece of Art.
The illustrations of art and cities and individuals are well done, as is the dialog. The colors are basic, but appropriate to the story - bright and primary.
Loved the story, the way it was told and illustrated, and learned a part of cultural history I had not known about previously.
I had never heard of this 1926 trial before. Abstract sculptor Brancusi's work was deemed utilitarian "Kitchen Utensils or Hospital Supplies" by US Customs, and was to be taxed at 40% to enter and be sold in the United States! Works of art came into the country tariff free. The US attorney tried to show one of his sold pieces was not art. Because it did not look like a bird (part of its title - "Bird In Space"), that it was not unique (he had made earlier versions, using different materials, although not for sale) and that it was mechanically produced (he did not pour the metal form, but when it was burnished and filed it was by him, by hand, and not by a machine).
A whole bunch of early 20th C Modernists appear here (especially Duchamp), and there is much discussion on what makes an object a piece of Art.
The illustrations of art and cities and individuals are well done, as is the dialog. The colors are basic, but appropriate to the story - bright and primary.
Loved the story, the way it was told and illustrated, and learned a part of cultural history I had not known about previously.
June 30, 2023
This is an odd genre of a book. The graphic novel focuses on the court case that took place in the US in 1927-1928 about a sculpture made by a Romanian Sculptor - Constantin Brâncuși.
In this novel, we first follow his earlier attempts at learning the craft and then perfecting it. I cannot label the book as historical fiction solely because it is based on actual fact. Whether the character actually spoke the words that we see on the page is definitely up for debate. The first several pages are dedicated to his life in France and the actual making of the 'Bird in Space' sculpture. Once it is displayed in the US, there is a Tax levied on it since they do not label this abstract work as a work of art.
I personally am not a great fan of abstract work and only see half the things I am meant to see within such artwork, so I can understand where the case might have stemmed from.
What follows in the case is quite fascinating. Although it is tough to follow dialogues within such small graphic panels, the presentation worked. The debate and the arguments on both sides were educative about the thinking of the time. The lawyers did a good job pushing their case.
Overall, even though I do not have any personal attachments to this history, it was an interesting tale to learn from.
I would recommend this to history buffs on the lookout for a different medium to learn from (or even people mildly interested in the topic but more interested in graphic novels).
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
In this novel, we first follow his earlier attempts at learning the craft and then perfecting it. I cannot label the book as historical fiction solely because it is based on actual fact. Whether the character actually spoke the words that we see on the page is definitely up for debate. The first several pages are dedicated to his life in France and the actual making of the 'Bird in Space' sculpture. Once it is displayed in the US, there is a Tax levied on it since they do not label this abstract work as a work of art.
I personally am not a great fan of abstract work and only see half the things I am meant to see within such artwork, so I can understand where the case might have stemmed from.
What follows in the case is quite fascinating. Although it is tough to follow dialogues within such small graphic panels, the presentation worked. The debate and the arguments on both sides were educative about the thinking of the time. The lawyers did a good job pushing their case.
Overall, even though I do not have any personal attachments to this history, it was an interesting tale to learn from.
I would recommend this to history buffs on the lookout for a different medium to learn from (or even people mildly interested in the topic but more interested in graphic novels).
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
January 22, 2023
Voilà un album absolument passionnant. Vous connaissez peut-être Constantin Brancusi de nom, ou certaines de ses sculptures telle que son célèbre Baiser, et peut-être êtes-vous passé devant son atelier près du Centre Pompidou ? Ce que cette bande dessinée relate c'est un procès qui a véritablement eu lieu en 1927 entre le gouvernement américain et cet artiste d'origine roumaine. Brancusi fait envoyer des oeuvres pour une exposition coordonnée par Marcel Duchamps. Mais les douanes interceptent son oeuvre L'envol, représentant de manière abstraite un oiseau en envol. Les douanes traitent l'objet comme une création industrielle et non artistique et la taxent. S'ensuit un procès très médiatisé qui interpelle la notion d'oeuvre d'art moderne. Les plus éminents spécialistes sont interrogés sur leur vision de l'objet et tout le processus créatif et la carrière de Brancusi sont étudiés de près. A travers ce procès c'est ce qui fait art qui est interrogé et c'est très bien traité.
Un album surprenant, érudit mais malgré tout captivant pour un grand public, même si vous ne connaissez rien à l'art d'ailleurs.
Un album surprenant, érudit mais malgré tout captivant pour un grand public, même si vous ne connaissez rien à l'art d'ailleurs.
March 27, 2023
Uma obra de arte em formato de quadrinho que retrata as angústias e ansiedades de ser pioneiro dentro da arte, além de mostrar que o aprendizado da subjetividade artística deve ser estudada por todos desde cedo.
Com um estilo gráfico belíssimo, Arnaud Nebbache narra um momento da vida do escultor Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) em que sua obra “Bird in Space” fica presa na alfândega norte-americana e seus colegas artistas, como Marcel Duchamp, acompanham o processo que dirá se sua escultora de bronze trata-se ou não de uma obra de arte e as consequências financeiras que isso causará.
Enquanto Brancusi lida com a situação continuando a trabalhar de Paris, vemos um momento muito significante da história da arte sendo feita, pois questionam-se o que é arte o que dará mais a frente pontapé nas vanguardas modernas.
É uma HQ que, como sendo estudante de design, amaria ter lido nas disciplinas em que questionamos arte x design. Já aguardo ansiosa o lançamento físico para divulgar para todos meus professores.
Com um estilo gráfico belíssimo, Arnaud Nebbache narra um momento da vida do escultor Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) em que sua obra “Bird in Space” fica presa na alfândega norte-americana e seus colegas artistas, como Marcel Duchamp, acompanham o processo que dirá se sua escultora de bronze trata-se ou não de uma obra de arte e as consequências financeiras que isso causará.
Enquanto Brancusi lida com a situação continuando a trabalhar de Paris, vemos um momento muito significante da história da arte sendo feita, pois questionam-se o que é arte o que dará mais a frente pontapé nas vanguardas modernas.
É uma HQ que, como sendo estudante de design, amaria ter lido nas disciplinas em que questionamos arte x design. Já aguardo ansiosa o lançamento físico para divulgar para todos meus professores.
April 2, 2023
In Brancusi v. United States by Arnaud Nebbache, I delved into the world of art, an area where I admit I need more substantial knowledge. Nevertheless, my interest in legal history drew me to this unique graphic novel, which presents a trial in a visually captivating manner.
The narrative is compelling and skillfully unfolds, oscillating between the intense courtroom drama set in New York City and Constantin Brancusi's experiences in Paris, where he grapples with the ongoing trial. The story's pacing is engaging and offers a multifaceted view of the unfolding events.
Despite my appreciation for the storytelling, the artistic style employed throughout the book was not to my taste. While the abstract illustrations aim to echo Brancusi's artistic approach, they are less effective in portraying the real-life historical events at the heart of the story. Nonetheless, this graphic novel could prove invaluable for those studying modern art, and aficionados of the genre are sure to find it immensely enjoyable. My gratitude goes to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing the e-ARC.
The narrative is compelling and skillfully unfolds, oscillating between the intense courtroom drama set in New York City and Constantin Brancusi's experiences in Paris, where he grapples with the ongoing trial. The story's pacing is engaging and offers a multifaceted view of the unfolding events.
Despite my appreciation for the storytelling, the artistic style employed throughout the book was not to my taste. While the abstract illustrations aim to echo Brancusi's artistic approach, they are less effective in portraying the real-life historical events at the heart of the story. Nonetheless, this graphic novel could prove invaluable for those studying modern art, and aficionados of the genre are sure to find it immensely enjoyable. My gratitude goes to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing the e-ARC.
April 10, 2023
Slightly pretentious, this will still find a place in the market for art lovers. It concerns Constantin Brancusi, and a sculpture of his, that the Americans impounded at the dockside and put a huge tax bill on. Cue a court case, mostly held while he was back in Paris, to find out whether or not he was the creator of it, whether it was art, and a one-off as needed, and so on. Marcel Duchamp writes illustrated briefings to be sent to France, from the public gallery, allowing the rest of the book to be semi-wordless pages where we just meander, and possibly think about the air and the space that sculpture is all about, allegedly, as Brancusi just gets on with his business. You could say the Americans don't exactly come off in the best light, but the book does show a snapshot in art history when it was first addressing industrial processes and the modern manufacturing age. If those subjects are at all of interest to you, then jump on this – I don't see it carrying to that broad a market outside the art world, however. Three and a half stars from me.
March 19, 2023
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for a review.
Brancusi versus United States is a pleasing graphic novel that both describes the titular trial and explores the nature of art. Brancusi's bird sculpture is charge a tariff as if it were a manufactured object and not an art piece. A lawsuit follows. Brancusi, meanwhile, returns to France and questions his own art and art's place in the world.
I loved the art and the pacing of the book. While the author absolutely has a point of view, he does a good job of showing the other side of things without too much prejudice. This is a case of beautiful storytelling examining a singular issue.
Brancusi versus United States is a pleasing graphic novel that both describes the titular trial and explores the nature of art. Brancusi's bird sculpture is charge a tariff as if it were a manufactured object and not an art piece. A lawsuit follows. Brancusi, meanwhile, returns to France and questions his own art and art's place in the world.
I loved the art and the pacing of the book. While the author absolutely has a point of view, he does a good job of showing the other side of things without too much prejudice. This is a case of beautiful storytelling examining a singular issue.
March 13, 2023
Je ne connaissais pas ce pan de l’histoire de Brancusi, que ce roman graphique explique à merveille ! Les visuels sont magnifiques, les compositions intelligentes, et le scénario retranscrit une affaire qui mêle loi américaine, argumentation esthétique et philosophie de l’image ! A lire et à relire !
April 30, 2023
Delightful illustrated “comic” of the court case against Brancusi. The images were wonderful, the mix of court proceedings and Brancusi’s thoughts and conversations balanced beautifully. I had no idea there was such a case, and I learned much about Brancusi’s relations with the other artists of his time. Highly recommend.
June 18, 2024
An excellent meditation on the intersection of art and industry. When is something manufactured by a worker vs. sculpted by an artist? This subject matter could easily become tedious and pretentious but this book does a great job of not coming off as preachy. By seeing the artist's emotions through the trail were given more than an art lecture.
June 6, 2023
Dessin beau, touchant, délicat. S'attache à peindre une époque et un bouleversement de l'homme et de la sculpture : la raideur conservatrice américaine et la joie pure des formes, de l'espace, de l'école de Paris
January 2, 2024
C’est un peu barbant mais c’est sûrement voulu pour faire ressentir la longueur du procès. Aussi, le roman graphique n’a pas un effet très vulgarisateur : il faut connaitre l’histoire de base pour comprendre. Mais joli dessin !
January 23, 2023
Dargaud présente cet album comme "la rocambolesque histoire d'un artiste confronté aux rouages inflexibles des douanes et de l'administration"
"Brancusi contre Etat Unis" c'est tout cela, et bien plus ! C'est un premier album particulièrement réussi, qui plaira autant aux amateurs d'Art qu'aux
lecteurs non initiés... un album aux mouvements et aux couleurs maitrisés qui donnent un rendu magnifique !
C'est aussi l'occasion de découvrir les mécanismes
d'un procès, d'en apprendre un peu sur l'Histoire de
l'Art, et de croiser au détour des pages des figures
majeures telles qu'Auguste Rodin et Man Ray...
Œuvre d'art ou pas, une chose est sure cette BD en
est une !
"Brancusi contre Etat Unis" c'est tout cela, et bien plus ! C'est un premier album particulièrement réussi, qui plaira autant aux amateurs d'Art qu'aux
lecteurs non initiés... un album aux mouvements et aux couleurs maitrisés qui donnent un rendu magnifique !
C'est aussi l'occasion de découvrir les mécanismes
d'un procès, d'en apprendre un peu sur l'Histoire de
l'Art, et de croiser au détour des pages des figures
majeures telles qu'Auguste Rodin et Man Ray...
Œuvre d'art ou pas, une chose est sure cette BD en
est une !
Want to read
March 31, 2023Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 14, 2023
Very interesting graphic novel on a famous trial in the United States, in 1927, on what can be considered art. The panels are lovely, and the artist uses his own style, which enhances the narrative. For a major show in New York, Brancusi transported his artworks over, and they were impounded by Customs, who declared them implements, and not artwork, and should be taxed at a higher rate. THIs went to court, with Duchamp, who had organised the show, at court everyday to observe the arguments. The novel fictionalizes the trial, and explores the changes in art happening at them time-with Brancusi aiming for art that melds form and function, and reflects the anxieties of an industrial age. Ideas of art are still evolving, and this captures a time when it actually had to be defended in court. Compelling read.
March 30, 2024
3,5/5
J'ai adoré le travail de la couleur, c'est très beau. C'est plus le dessin qui m'a captivée que l'histoire !
J'ai adoré le travail de la couleur, c'est très beau. C'est plus le dessin qui m'a captivée que l'histoire !
December 15, 2025
An insightful read that examines an artist's disputed work and the definition of art.
May 12, 2024
How would you feel if customs officers labeled the sculptures you made as utensils? Or how would you respond in court if you had to demonstrate that these sculptures were authentic pieces of art? In the famous trial known as Brancusi v. United States, which took place in 1928, Constantin Brancusi had to explain art and justify himself as an artist. It is one of the most significant legal battles in art history. This graphic novel perfectly tells the story thanks to its fascinating illustrations and exquisite coloring. But the book's ending did not leave enough of an impression. Despite the weak ending if you are an art lover who is interested in the relationship between law and creativity, artistic freedom, the boundaries of creativity, and the importance of defending artistic expression you'll enjoy this graphic novel.
Thanks a lot to Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing ARC of this graphic novel for reviewers.
Thanks a lot to Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing ARC of this graphic novel for reviewers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews