'Famine' original Shona stone sculpture signed by Rangarirai Makunde
By Rangarirai Makunde
Located in Milwaukee, WI
As Makunde was trained in the Shona stone carving tradition, the sculpture reflects the visual heritage of African sculpture: the figure's face is round and mask-like, with squared, ...
Stone
Sold
H 11.82 in W 7.09 in D 5.91 in
Punu African Tribal Face Mask Sculpture, Figure from Gabon, Early 20th Century
Located in Coimbra, PT
Beautifull African art mask in carved wood from Gabon, 20th Century. It belongs to the Punu ethnic group, coming from Gabon. This mask is carved in wood, representing female face bl...
Wood
Figurative sculptures mix reality and imagination, with the most common muse being the human body. Animals are also inspirations for these sculptures, along with forms found in nature.
While figurative sculpture dates back over 35,000 years, the term came into popularity in the 20th century to distinguish it from abstract art. It was aligned with the Expressionist movement in that many of its artists portrayed reality but in a nonnaturalistic and emotional way. In the 1940s, Alberto Giacometti — a Swiss-born artist who was interested in African art, Cubism and Surrealism — created now-iconic representational sculptures of the human figure, and after World War II, figurative sculpture as a movement continued to flourish in Europe.
Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon were some of the leading figurative artists during this period. Artists like Jeff Koons and Maurizio Cattelan propelled the evolution of figurative sculpture into the 21st century.
Figurative sculptures can be whimsical, uncanny and beautiful. Their materials range from stone and wood to metal and delicate ceramics. Even in smaller sizes, the sculptures make bold statements. A bronze sculpture by Salvador Dalí enhances a room; a statuesque bull by Jacques Owczarek depicts strength with its broad chest while its thin legs speak of fragility. Figurative sculptures allow viewers to see what is possible when life is reimagined.
Browse 1stDibs for an extensive collection of figurative sculptures and find the next addition to your collection.
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