1877-1947

Georg Kolbe began to study sculpture during a stay in Rome from 1898-1901. The artist born in 1877 in Waldheim in Saxony had traveled there as a trained painter and graphic artist, who had studied in Dresden, Munich, and Paris during the seven years before his initial success in these areas. Like many other artists of his generation, Kolbe was strongly influenced by the works of Rodin work in Paris. The sculptor Louis Tuallion offered him help and provided technical support during his first creative attempts in Rome. The artist quickly found his way into the sculptural work, but he didn't concentrate on it until 1904 when he came back to Berlin. Kolbe promptly gained recognition: he became a member of the Berlin Secession, and, together with Paul Cassirer, he was soon represented by the city's most important art dealer.

The "Dancer" (1910) had brought him the final breakthrough. He rose to the ranks of the most important German sculptors of his time. The "Dancer" is still one of his best-known works. Thanks to the dancer's "modern" hairstyle and the highly contemporary expressive dance style, a self-forgotten posture, the statue has become an idol that attracts the pilgrimage of the art-interested youth.

The nude figure, often associated with the motif of dance, continued to be the center of his creative work until the twenties. After the First World War, Kolbe's oeuvre indicates at his engagement with Expressionism, later turning to the classical-monumental. When Kolbe died in 1947, he left behind the heritage that can be found in the significant collections around the world.

A plastic work of sculptural art made of wood, stone, ivory, bronze or other metals.

While sculptures from wood, ivory or stone are made directly from the block of material, for bronze casting a working model is prepared at first. Usually it is made of clay or other easily shaped materials.

The prime time of sculpture after the Roman antiquity was the Renaissance. Impressionism gave a new impulse to the sculptural arts. Also the contemporary artists, such as Jorg Immendorf, Andora, and Markus Lupertz enriched the sculpture with outstanding works.

Designation for an art object (sculpture, installation), which is produced according to the will of the artist in multiple copies in a limited and numbered edition.

Artist's multiple contributed to "democratization" of art as the work was made available and affordable for a wider audience.

An alloy of copper with other metals (especially with tin) used since ancient times.

Bronze casting:

When casting bronze, artist usually applies the lost-wax technique which is dating back more than 5000 years. It's the best, but also the most complex method of producing sculptures.

Sculpture "The Book Reader" by Ernst Barlachs is shown here as an example:

First, the artist forms a model of his sculpture. It is embedded in a liquid silicone rubber composition. Once the material has solidified, the model is cut out. The liquid wax is poured in the negative mould. After cooling down, the wax casting is removed from the mould, provided with sprues and dipped into ceramic mass. The ceramic mass is hardened in a kiln, and the wax flows out (lost mould).

Now we finally have the negative form, into which the 1400 ° C hot molten bronze is poured. After the bronze had cooled down, the ceramic shell is broken off and the sculpture comes to light.

Now the sprues are removed, the surfaces are polished, patinated and numbered by the artist himself or, to his specifications, by a specialist. Thus, each casting becomes an original work

For lower-grade bronze castings, the sand casting method is often used which, however, does not achieve the results of more complex lost wax technique in terms of surface characteristics and quality.

Related links:
Sand casting

Graphic or sculpture edition that was initiated by ars mundi and is available only at ars mundi or at distribution partner licensed by ars mundi.