Brancusi

CONSTANTIN BRÂNCUŞI ROMANIAN SCULPTOR

by Andreea Prodan



Constantin Brâncuşi's deceptively simple works, which aimed to reveal hidden truths about objects, animals and people, were integral to the development of Modern art.

The sculptures of Constantin Brancusi blend simplicity and sophistication in such a unique way that they seem to defy imitation. 

Brâncuşi revolutionized sculpture, invented modernism, and shaped the forms and concepts of industrial design as we know it today. 

HIS LIFE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKROUND

Brâncuşi was born on February 21, 1876, in Hobita, a village in Romania's Carpathian Mountains. For centuries, the region was known for its rich tradition of folk crafts, particularly ornate woodcarving. It was largely the simple, geometric patterns used by Romanian folk craftsmen that shaped the style of Brâncuşi's mature works. 

 Brâncuşi

sought to create sculptures that presented the true essence of his subjects. While many refer to his work as abstract, he disagreed, saying they represented a fundamental, often concealed, reality.

 Magic,

myths, folklore and exotic cultures fuelled Brâncuşi's work. These traditional, old world inspirations formed a unique contrast to his sleek, modern creations.



For BrâncuĹ&#x;i, the raw materials, primarily marble, stone, bronze, wood and metal, guided the specific forms he produced. He paid close attention to his medium, meticulously polishing pieces for days to achieve a gleam that suggested an infinite continuation into space.

ENDLESS COLUMN

TABLE OF SILENCE

GA T

EO FT

HE

KIS

Brâncuşi on his own work  "There are idiots who define my work as abstract; yet what they call abstract is what is most realistic. What is real is not the appearance, but the idea, the essence of things."  "Don’t look for mysteries; I bring you pure joy."  "I ground matter to find the continuous line. And when I realized I could not find it, I stopped, as if an unseen someone had slapped my hands."  "Work like a slave; command like a king; create like a god." 

Today, Brancusi's work can be found in numerous museum collections worldwide, repeatedly breaking records for the highest price paid for a sculpture at auction. Most recently, his Madame L.R. (Portrait de Mme L.R.) sold for $37.2 million at Christie's in February 2009.  In 2011, Google commemorated his 135th birthday with a tribute on their main page. 