Constantin Brancusi (Modern Masters Series) [Paperback]

Eric Shanes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Modern Masters Series | Publication Date: June 1, 1989

With more than 100 illustrations -- approximately 48 in full color -- this innovative series offers a fresh look at the most creative and influential artists of the postwar era. Modern Masters form a perfect reference set for home, school, or library. Each handsomely designed volume presents:

- A thorough survey of the artist's life and work

- Statements by the artist

- An illustrated chapter on technique

- Chronology

- Lists of exhibitions and public collections

- Annotated bibliography

- Index

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Shanes, a British painter and art historian, here reconciles the "formal simplicity" of Brancusi's (1876-1957) sculpture with its "richness of meaning." He treats the works thematically, dividing them into categories, following their chronological development and illustrating his analysis with his own photographs of the sculptures. A chapter about "The Natural World," for example, deals with the celebrated Bird in Space and Fish series. Although Brancusi's oeuvre lends itself well to this compartmentalized approach, the result is slightly fragmented. The last chapter fails to synthesize previous discussions, instead proffering generalities ("Brancusi elevated the idealism of Renaissance art to a new plane, creating a modern sculptural language in the process"). Some of the more challenging modernist issues operating in Brancusi's art--the polarities of real and ideal and abstraction vs. representation--are raised but not resolved. A chapter consisting of the artist's statements on art and a section about his techniques, however, round out the book nicely.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press; 1st edition (June 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896599299
• ISBN-13: 978-0896599291
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Brancusi, November 7, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Constantin Brancusi (Modern Masters Series) (Paperback)

I found this book a useful source of information about Brancusi. It captures the essence of Brancusi himself and what made his scultpures so good. I liked the fact that Brancusi's comments about his sculptures and how he made them were included in it, it somehow, made you feel more about the sculptures themselves. His life story is interwoven with his sculptures in this book, just as his life and art are interwoven. What I don't like about the book is the way it is set out. It is confusing and does not give you a clear picture, altogether. Although, the author said that he hoped the reader could get more out of it that way, it somehow does not work. It was set out, not in a chronological order but with specific titles like 'The Human World'. Overall, though I liked this book as it analyzed the sculptures very well however, it raises the issues of abstract scupture versus represational in Brancusi's art without actually stating anything about it??? I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Brancusi or would like to find out mroe information on him.

1 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars interest in sculpture, June 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Constantin Brancusi (Modern Masters Series) (Paperback)

Not very well known, but one of the most important artists in his style