Formal issues in fine arts

Author: Richard Serra
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: This book is one of the most important works on the theory of plastic arts in the 19th century. The author was a significant sculptor in 19th-century Germany. His creations developed a personal style in the classical tradition, influenced by Rodin, focusing on the study of movement and light and shadow effects. The author is considered one of the first to advocate for an aesthetic that relates to the flatness of painting but is independent of linear sculpture. The book greatly disseminated this theory. We must regard nature as revealing to us all possible variations of our perception of an object, rather than showing us the object itself. This book is one of the most important works on the theory of plastic arts in the 19th century. The author proposed an aesthetic system based on the artistic rules of the classical era, exploring purely formal issues such as the structure and techniques of sculpture, almost completely avoiding specific content of the works. The issues discussed in this book are also the most controversial in the field of plastic arts, representative of the typical, and remain a valuable read for researchers and creators to this day.