What is sculpture's primordial nature, its essence, and how should it be redefined? Should sculpture serve society? Why not objects, rather than the human figure, as sculpture's subject? How and what do we see? Why the pedestal? What determines proportion? How can sculpture be meaningfully united with the real world of objects? These were only a few of the questions being asked after 1905questions that led to the revolutionary premises of modern sculpture. In this work, Elsen explores the radical changes that transformed sculpture between roughly 1890 and 1918, signaling the emergence of modern sculpture. He demonstrates how Rodin and his younger venturesome contemporaries changed the look and focus of sculpture, thereby initiating its continual process of redefinition. The result is a fascinating and thought-provoking book. 168 black-and-white illustrations. A distinguished teacher and scholar, Albert E. Elsen (1927-1995) was professor of art history at Stanford University and an activist on behalf of art and artists. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, among them Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships; he also served as president of The College Art Association of America. At Stanford University, Elsen established the B. Gerald Cantor Rodin Gallery and Sculpture Garden and a campus-wide program of outdoor sculpture. He is the author of Modern European Sculpture, The Gates of Hell by Auguste Rodin , and Rodin and His Contemporaries. Used Book in Good Condition