Biographies artists sculptures

Austin was an American company that became famous all over the world for making sculptures. Right now, Austin does not exist anymore, but its sculptures are still popular and are becoming real collector’s items.

Aubrey Beardsley (1872 – 1898) was an English illustrator and author. His work is seen as part of the Jugendstil or Art Nouveau movement. Within Art Nouveau, Beardsley was one of the most controversial artists. Based on the Japanese shunga, erotic art from Japan, Beardsley made dark, erotic illustrations. Other than that, he made illustrations for books, magazines and the text edition of the play Salomé by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) in 1894.

M.C. Escher (1898-1972) has become famous all over the world for his lithography, wood carvings and wood engravings in which impossible geometrical constructions are shown. Based on Escher’s art, equally breathtaking sculptures have been made. Escher usually opted for animal figures in his art like reptiles, butterflies, birds and fish. It is remarkable that the figures transformed in some of the art, so that it was possible to see both fish and birds in the artwork.

Goebel is a renowned company that specialises in making porcelain and ceramic items. Goebel exists since 1871 and has not lost a thing when it comes to craftsmanship and expertise. To this very day, they put the combination between tradition and art first. Since the sculptures are made by hand, every single one is unique. The hallmark with the crown guarantees craftsmanship and great artistic design.

Lluis Jorda creates applied arts. He was born in Barcelona and also went to art school there. He also followed art classes in Geneva and held expositions in cities such as Amsterdam. His figurative sculptures are characterized by romance and emotion with the woman as its most important source of inspiration. The sculptures by Jordan can easily be recognized by their natural and balanced shape in a contemporary style. They are given a warm bronze patina in an artistic way and it, due to a oxidation process, turns mysterious shades of green over time. Lluis Jorda has grown into a fixed name within the world of modern sculpting.

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was an Austrian painter and one of the most prominent members of the Wiener Secession, the Viennese Jugendstil movement. A few world famous pieces of art by Klimt have been turned into stunning sculptures. In Klimt’s art symbolism, eroticism, decorative refinement and stylized distribution of colour keep on returning. The woman was Klimt’s most important subject. He painted her in a vulnerable, loving and sometimes unapproachable state. The sculptures by Klimt are an ode to him and his love for women.

Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor. His expressionistic artwork is characterised by elongated portraits and bodies (mostly female), in warm colours. A few pieces of his art have been translated to remarkably beautiful sculptures. Modigliani often used the Caryatid as a design for his sculptures. This clearly shows that Modigliani was inspired by African and Oceanic art. Modigliani is seen as one of the big artists of the 20th century.

Piet Mondriaan (1872-1944) was a Dutch painter who became famous all over the world for his abstract and non-figurative artwork in primary colours. Mondriaan was an important member of De Stijl, an artistic movement that strove to design in the most simplistic way. His recognisable artwork (straight lines, asymmetry, primary colours and a clear, distinctive division of lines) have been used in a creative way within the applied arts: from fashion pieces to sculptures.

François Pompon (1855-1933) was a French sculptor. Pompon became famous for his animal sculptures. Simplifying shapes and polished surfaces are typical of Pompon’s work. This is why his sculptures go very well with the Art Deco Style. In 1890 he became an employee for Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) as head of his studio. From 1905 he decided to only choose animals as subjects for his sculptures. His ‘Ours Blac’, Polar bear, is probably the most representative sculpture for Pompon’s style.

Egon Schiele (1890 - 1918) was an expressionistic, Austrian painter. In his drawings and paintings Schiele mostly used the human form, often in an erotic way. It was not uncommon that the canvases, for which very young girls modeled sometimes, were seen as offensive. The clear and distinct lines with which Schiele painted his designs give the art a harsh and strange character. Schiele was influenced heavily by Gustav Klimt, even though their styles are very different. Klimt’s work is much more colourful than that of Schiele, which is more modest.

WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG) is a German factory that produces cutlery today. In 1853 the company was founded as a metal repair workshop. Around 1900, WMF grew into one of the biggest producers and exporters of domestic metal, mainly in the Jugendstil or Art Nouveau style. The factory became greatly recognised when sculptor and designer Albert Mayer was appointed as the director of the WMF Art Studio between 1884 and 1914. In 1905, WMF took over the company Orivit AG, which was known for its Jugendstil tin. During this period, items like sculptural, tin candlesticks in the shape of elegant Art Nouveau ladies, dishes and trays were made.