Constantin Brancusi

Constantin Brancusi is one of the most pivotal sculptors of the 20th century, widely regarded as the father of modern sculpture. Born in Hobița, Romania, in 1876, he walked much of the way to Paris as a young man, arriving in 1904 and quickly immersing himself in the vibrant avant-garde scene. Although he briefly worked in Auguste Rodin's studio, Brancusi famously departed, reportedly saying that 'nothing can grow in the shadow of great trees.' This independence defined his career: he forged a radically original path centered on the reduction of form to its purest, most essential state, stripping away ornamentation to reveal what he called 'the essence of things.' His work synthesized influences from Romanian folk art, African and Asian sculpture, and European modernism into a wholly unique visual language.