Sculpture has existed since prehistoric times, with early works created for religious or symbolic purposes. Major ancient civilizations like Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome produced sculptures that recorded both religious and political aspects of their societies. Techniques like carving, casting, constructing, and modeling were used. In subsequent eras, artists strived for perfection of the human form or moved towards abstraction. Contemporary sculptors continue redefining the art form using diverse materials and concepts. For a work to be considered sculpture, it must demonstrate skillful use of form, convey some message or emotion, and effectively employ sculpting techniques.

1. Introduction to
Sculpture
A brief history

2. Sculpture is a vital part of
civilizations across the globe.
Megalith, England, 2500
B.C.
Fertility Bird Goddess,
Egyptian
3600 B.C.

3. Sculpture is a record of
human existence.
Sculpture is a
reflection of
the society in
which it is
produced.
Terracotta warrior from the
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)

4. Terracotta Army
•
•
•
•
•
Depicts the army of Qin
Shi Huang (remember 1st
Chinese Emperor)
Created to serve as
protection in the afterlife
Estimated over 8500
sculptures.
All range in size based on
importance (what other
civilization uses hierarchy
of scale?)
How do you think they
were created?

5. Early sculptures of the Paleolithic and
Neolithic eras were likely for symbolic or
religious, as well as utilitarian.
Venus of Willendorf, Austria, 25,000
B.C.
Neolithic tools, 6,000
B.C..

6. Utilitarian Sculpture
Utilitarian sculpture is
created to be
used.
Examples: bowls,
cups, chairs,
playgrounds, etc.
Wedding Vase, Maria Martinez
Crown Fountain, Chicago Illinois,

7. Some ancient sculpture’s meanings
remain a mystery.
Stonehenge, England, 3100
B.C.

8. From small, hand held pieces to
monuments, traditions of carving, casting
and modeling emerged in these early
sculptures.
Trajan’s Column, Italy, 106
A.D.
Bronze horse, 1000
B.C.

9. Sculpting Techniques
Carving
Casting
Constructing
Modeling

10. Carving:
Subtractive process: material is removed
Mainly wood and stone (marble)

11. Modeling:
Additive process: material is added Clay, wax,
plaster, paper-mache

12. Casting:
a mold is used to form molten bronze(or other
material) into a desired shape.
http://www.verylgoodnight.com/casting3.html

13. Construction:
welding, gluing, nailing materials together.
Anish Kapoor
Cloud Gate
You’ll see this one again
very soon.

14. Assemblage:
assembling found objects in unique ways. A type of
Construction.
Joseph Cornell

15. Sculptures of ancient empires recorded
both religious and political life.
Artisans of
these cultures
often used
techniques
and methods
that continued
unchanged for
centuries.
Statue of Memi and Sabu, Old Kingdom, Dynasty
4,
ca. 2575–2465 B.C.
Menkaure and his queen, Egypt, 2550
B.C.

16. Sculpture of Ancient Greece and Rome is
one of the greatest achievements of
Western Art
This work often focused on perfecting
the human form.

17. During this same time, distinct
sculptural traditions developed in
other areas of the world.

18. During the Renaissance, artists again
looked to perfecting the human form.
Michelangelo sought to release
the image that was “locked” in the
stone.

19. Artists continued to work in this
style into the 20th century
•Edmonia Lewis, one of
the only female African
American sculptors of
the time, sculpted figures
that represent both the
beauty of the human
figure while presenting
thought provoking
content.

20. In the 19th and early 20th century, artists
shifted from portraying realistic figures in
favor of distorted and abstracted forms.
Auguste
Rodin

21. This abstraction of form carried on
into the 20th century.
Henry Moore
Constantin
Brancusi

22. Some artists shunned traditional materials
and methods and created entirely new
types of sculptures.
Marcel Duchamp
Alexander
Calder

23. Some artists shunned traditional
materials and methods and created
entirely new types of sculptures.
Robert
Rauschenburg
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

24. Contemporary artists continue to
redefine sculpture as an art form.
Louise Nevelson
Deborah
Butterfield

25. Contemporary artists continue to
redefine sculpture as an art form.
Andy
Sandy
Skoglund

26. Contemporary artists continue to
redefine sculpture as an art form.
Adrian
Arleo

27. However sculpture is defined, it is more
than just a three dimensional object.
3 fundamentals must be present:
•Form: The configuration the idea takes whether
recognizable or not that demonstrates skillful use
of elements and principles.
•Content: The emotion, passion or message the
sculptor intends to convey and how the viewer
interacts with the piece.
•Technique: The sculptor’s ability to effectively
use materials and tools. Craftsmanship.

28. Form
•How has the artist
successfully
demonstrated the
elements and
principles?
Chakaia

29. Content
•What message or
feeling is the artist
conveying?
Magdalena Abakanowicz

30. Technique
•Was the artist
Louise
Bourgeois
able to
effectively use
materials and
tools? How did
the subject
inform her
choices?