THE sculpture, roughly speaking, it is the art of transforming raw matter (stone, metal, wood, etc.) into meaningful spatial forms. When we say “spatial forms”, we mean forms in the third dimension, that is, with volume, height and depth.
From the plastic arts, the sculpture it is one of those that most establish interaction with the general public. This is because, generally, they are designed and produced with the purpose of occupying public spaces. It is so, for example, with the Greek and Roman sculptural ensembles; but also with sculptures produced in the Renaissance period or in cultures of traditional religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism.
Often, the sculptures are also designed to accompany architectural complexes, with the aim of composing a harmonious artistic ensemble. This is the case of the sculptures that accompany the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages and the classical-style palaces from the period of the absolutist monarchies.
Furthermore, according to the period, civilization and artistic school, sculpture undergoes thematic and formal variations. This becomes evident when we compare the works of a Renaissance sculptor (16th century), such as
Michelangelo, with the works of a primitivist or cubist sculptor, such as Picasso (twentieth century). THE pieta (see image at top of text) by Michelangelo, for example, surely has a realistic expression typical of Rebirth, which seeks to convey the pain of the theme of the deposition of Christ's body from the cross and the contemplation of mom.Another example that deserves to be highlighted is The Thinker, of the french sculptor AugusteRodin. This statue was completed and exposed to the public in 1888, integrating the set called Gates of hell. Rodin had received an order for special sculptures on the themes present in the book. Hell, gives Comedy in Dante Alighieri. Many art experts believe that The Thinker be a representation of Dante himself. The expressiveness of this statue is unique in the Impressionist movement and, as art historian Stephen Farthing points out:
[…] Each component of The Thinker it is illustrative of mental concentration. As Rodin observed: 'He doesn't just think with his brain, his wrinkled forehead, distended nostrils and lips compressed, but with all the muscles in the arm, back and legs, clenched fists and fingers contracted'. This masterpiece is an example of the extraordinary expressive force that Rodin imprinted on the naked human body. [1]
See, below, the image of The Thinker and note the characteristics pointed out in the previous paragraphs:
“The Thinker”, by Rodin, was made public in 1888
From the beginning of the 20th century, sculpture began to adjust to the proposals of the artistic avant-gardes that emerged in Europe, such as Cubism, Dadaism, Abstractionism and Constructivism. In addition to the aforementioned Picasso (who also stood out in painting), other sculptors such as Constantin Brancusi and Henrymoore, became famous within the modernist avant-gardes, which, to this day, continue to influence contemporary sculpture production.
GRADES
[1] Farthing, Stephen. all about art. Rio de Janeiro: Sextant, 2011. P. 324
By Me. Cláudio Fernandes