Contents
Constantin Brâncuși
Reducing birds, heads and embracing figures to essential forms that helped transform modern sculpture.
The Kiss · Sleeping Muse
- Born
- 19 February 1876
- Birthplace
- Hobița, Romania
- Died
- 16 March 1957
More people
Constantin Brâncuși
Constantin Brâncuși was a Romanian sculptor based in Paris. Direct carving, polished surfaces and carefully arranged bases helped him move sculpture away from literal imitation towards concentrated forms.
Early life
Woodworking roots
Grew up in rural Romania and worked in trades before entering art school.
Formal training
Studied in Craiova and Bucharest before continuing at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Career
- 1904
Arriving in Paris
Reached Paris after travelling west from Romania.
- 1907
An independent direction
Briefly worked in Auguste Rodin’s studio before pursuing his own approach.
- 1913
American exposure
Exhibited at New York’s Armory Show, helping introduce his sculpture to American collectors.
- 1937–1938
A public memorial
Created an ensemble at Târgu Jiu commemorating Romanian soldiers killed in the First World War.
Selected work
The Kiss
Two embracing figures carved as a compact block.
Sleeping Muse
A reclining head reduced to an elegant oval.
Bird in Space
A series concentrating on the upward movement of flight.
Endless Column
A repeating vertical form within the Târgu Jiu memorial.
Beyond the studio
The studio as a whole
Arranged sculptures, bases and furniture together, treating their relationships as part of the work.
A bequest to France
Left his studio’s contents to the French state on the condition that the arrangement be preserved.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Museum or specialist research ↗Photo: Edward Steichen. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
