Constantin brâncuși artwork

Summary of Constantin Brâncuși

Constantin Brâncuși is often regarded as the most important sculptor of the 20^th century. His visionary sculptures often exemplify ideal and archetypal representations of their subject matter. Bearing laconic titles such as Fish, Princess X, and Bird in Space, his sculptures are deceptively simple, with their reduced forms aiming to reveal hidden truths. Unlike the towering figure of Auguste Rodin, for whom Brâncuși briefly assisted early in his career, Brâncuși worked directly with his materials, pioneering the technique of Direct Carving, rather than working with intermediaries such as plaster or clay models.

Accomplishments

• Explaining that "The artist should know how to dig out the being that is within matter," Brancusi sought to create sculptures that conveyed the true essence of his subjects, be they animals, people, or objects by concentrating on highly simplified forms free from ornamentation. While many regarded his art as abstract, the artist disagreed; he insisted on the representational nature of his works, asserting that they
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  An expert's guide to Constantin Brâncuși: five must-read books on the Romanian sculptor

  • Click here for more reading lists on the world's greatest artists

  The Romanian artist Constantin Brâncuși (1876-1957) shaped the course of sculpture in the 20th century with his pared-back forms taking inspiration from ancient mythology and Cycladic art. The largest survey of the artist’s work, with almost 200 sculptures, will open later this month at the Centre Pompidou in Paris (27 March-1 July). Below, the exhibition’s curator Ariane Coulondre has selected five books about Brâncuși for fans of all ages.

  Brâncuși: A Study of the Sculpture (1968, reissued 1983) by Sidney Geist

  “One of the first comprehensive studies of Brâncuși, authored by one of the artist’s foremost specialists who was also a sculptor. A reference book that has significantly contributed to shaping our understanding of Brancusi’s artistic legacy.”

  Constantin Brâncuși 1876-1957 (1995) by Friedrich Teja Bach, Margit Rowell and Ann Temkin

  “The catalogue of a landmark exhibition by the Centre Pompidou and t

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  Biography of Constantin Brancusi, Romanian Modernist Sculptor

  Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) was a Romanian sculptor who became a French citizen shortly before his death. He was one of the most important and influential sculptors of the 20th century. His use of abstract forms to represent natural concepts led the way toward minimalist art in the 1960s and beyond. Many observers consider his "Bird in Space" pieces to be among the best abstract representations of flight ever created.

  Fast Facts: Constantin Brancusi

  • Known For: Sculptor
  • Styles: Cubism, minimalism
  • Born: February 19, 1876 in Hobita, Romania
  • Died: March 16, 1957 in Paris, France
  • Education: Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, France
  • Selected Works: "The Kiss" (1908), "Sleeping Muse" (1910), "Bird in Space" (1919), "Endless Column" (1938)
  • Notable Quote: "Architecture is inhabited sculpture."

  Early Life and Education

  Born into a farming family in the foothills of Romania's Carpathian Mountains, Brancusi began working at age seven. He herded sheep whi