Age of Brilliant Star Clusters: Western 18th, 19th, and 20th Centuries

Author: Chi Ke, Meng Lin, Chen Rubin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: This volume includes famous sculptures from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, primarily from Europe. During this period, numerous schools of thought emerged, showcasing diverse styles and a wealth of talented artists. Engels once remarked that Thorvaldsen's exquisite sculptures demonstrated the remarkable skill of human hands. Indeed, "Neoclassicism" inherited the classical spirit of Greece and the Renaissance, evolving into greater elegance and refinement. It drew inspiration from mythology and history while also celebrating revolutionary scholars and thinkers. Subsequently, Romanticism and Realism emerged one after another. Artists promoted patriotism and heroism, with many depicting Joan of Arc from different perspectives and portraying Napoleon's triumphs. Some sculptors not only admired revolution but even participated in it. The birth of "Modernism" in art began with a rejection of modern civilization. Many Modernists adopted a negative attitude toward traditional art, with "innovation" and "self-expression" becoming the primary artistic goals for many. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, the center of Modernist art development was in France. After the 1930s, it gradually shifted to the United States. On a land with a fast-paced lifestyle, various schools of thought developed rapidly, with new trends emerging every year. It is nearly impossible to introduce them all—even specialized publications on Modernist art cannot cover them comprehensively. In our World Sculpture Illustrated Dictionary, we can only highlight a small selection of works that have established themselves in art history and hold significant representation to delight our readers.