
Trafalgar Square From Above
Michael Wallner
Sculpture - 63 x 72 x 5 cm Sculpture - 24.8 x 28.3 x 2 inch
$3,061
Wood and stone were among the first materials used by humans for carving tools and creating sculptures. While wood was commonly utilized, only a few wooden objects have survived through the centuries due to its tendency to decompose faster and be more easily damaged compared to more durable materials like bronze or stone.
From the 7th to the 9th century, many woodcarvers lived in monasteries, traveling from one to another. These woodcarvers were rare, and the style they followed was often prescriptive, leading to sculptures that were strikingly similar. This period was also marked by iconoclasm, during which religious wooden sculptures were destroyed due to the prohibition of depicting religious subjects.
Wood carving has a rich history in various regions, including England, Scandinavia, Africa, India, and Australia. In Europe, the 15th and 16th centuries saw a significant development in wooden sculpture, especially in Germany. Influential Gothic sculptors like Tilman Riemenschneider, Veit Stoss, Michael Pacher, Gregor Erhart, and Jorg Zurn pushed the boundaries of woodcarving, creating highly detailed and intricate works that remain influential to this day.
In the 17th century, woodcarving experienced a resurgence in England as Baroque ornaments became popular. Grinling Gibbons, a renowned woodcarver of the time, was one of the few artists widely recognized for his contributions. Meanwhile, in France, the Rococo style reignited interest in wood carving, with designers like Lelange, Foliot, and Cressent incorporating it into ornate furniture pieces.
Modern artists such as Brancusi, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, and Paul Gauguin have continued to explore wood as a medium. Brancusi, inspired by classical traditions, emphasized the finish and materiality of the wood, while Moore used it to create abstract and evocative forms. Hepworth's modern pieces and Gauguin's use of wood to connect with primitive techniques further demonstrate wood's versatile role in contemporary art.
Wood stands apart from other materials like resin or bronze due to its fragility and the range of tools required for carving. The technique used depends on the desired outcome, whether it's a low-relief sculpture or a free-standing piece that allows the viewer to walk around it. The process begins with sourcing wood planks that are flattened, dried, and calibrated. A sketch is then drawn onto the wood, and excess material is removed to roughly shape the piece. The sculptor uses tools such as u-gouges to refine the form, followed by flat gouges, chisels, and carving knives to add fine details and shadow play.
Artsper offers an extensive selection of modern wooden sculptures by prominent contemporary artists such as Nando Stevoli, Gaspard Mitz, César Orrico, Marc Laffolay, Lesley Hilling, and Valérie Carmet. These artists continue to push the boundaries of wood as a material, creating unique and striking sculptures that capture the versatility and timeless appeal of this medium.
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Sculpture - 63 x 72 x 5 cm Sculpture - 24.8 x 28.3 x 2 inch
$3,061
Sculpture - 370 x 200 x 16 cm Sculpture - 145.7 x 78.7 x 6.3 inch
$7,786
Sculpture - 280 x 61 x 61 cm Sculpture - 110.2 x 24 x 24 inch
$11,700
Sculpture - 95 x 95 x 4 cm Sculpture - 37.4 x 37.4 x 1.6 inch
$1,450
Sculpture - 44 x 30 x 32 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 11.8 x 12.6 inch
$8,190 $5,733
Sculpture - 48 x 40 x 12 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 15.7 x 4.7 inch
$3,334
Sculpture - 115 x 115 x 20 cm Sculpture - 45.3 x 45.3 x 7.9 inch
$18,427
Sculpture - 75 x 150 x 74 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 59.1 x 29.1 inch
$99,449
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch
$4,657
Sculpture - 37 x 45 x 2 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch
$573
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$374
Sculpture - 90 x 45 x 10 cm Sculpture - 35.4 x 17.7 x 3.9 inch
$2,164
Sculpture - 80 x 6 x 10 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 2.4 x 3.9 inch
$2,223
Sculpture - 18 x 2 x 2 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 0.8 x 0.8 inch
$585
Sculpture - 23 x 43 x 11 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 16.9 x 4.3 inch
$263
Sculpture - 66 x 66 x 8 cm Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 3.1 inch
$1,872
Sculpture - 108.6 x 36 x 14.9 cm Sculpture - 42.8 x 14.2 x 5.9 inch
$25,000
Sculpture - 150 x 120 x 40 cm Sculpture - 59.1 x 47.2 x 15.7 inch
$9,500
Sculpture - 85 x 53 x 14 cm Sculpture - 33.5 x 20.9 x 5.5 inch
$9,479
Sculpture - 120 x 120 x 20 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 47.2 x 7.9 inch
$7,371
Sculpture - 90 x 98 x 22 cm Sculpture - 35.4 x 38.6 x 8.7 inch
$6,786
Sculpture - 225 x 40 x 32 cm Sculpture - 88.6 x 15.7 x 12.6 inch
$936
Sculpture - 46 x 22 x 16 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 8.7 x 6.3 inch
$9,354
Sculpture - 202 x 92 x 12 cm Sculpture - 79.5 x 36.2 x 4.7 inch
$20,475
Sculpture - 160 x 15 x 5 cm Sculpture - 63 x 5.9 x 2 inch
$1,755
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$164 $147
Sculpture - 40 x 23 x 14 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 9.1 x 5.5 inch
$2,340
Sculpture - 93 x 75 x 2 cm Sculpture - 36.6 x 29.5 x 0.8 inch
$5,148
Sculpture - 25 x 30 x 32 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 11.8 x 12.6 inch
$3,276
Sculpture - 100 x 50 x 90 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 19.7 x 35.4 inch
$4,387
Sculpture - 132 x 180 x 12 cm Sculpture - 52 x 70.9 x 4.7 inch
$25,740
Sculpture - 25 x 25 x 6 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 9.8 x 2.4 inch
$175
Sculpture - 70 x 42 x 10 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 16.5 x 3.9 inch
$7,605
Sculpture - 25 x 25 x 3.5 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 9.8 x 1.4 inch
$2,106
Sculpture - 12 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture - 4.7 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$702
Sculpture - 80 x 50 x 35 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 19.7 x 13.8 inch
$3,978
Sculpture - 25 x 43 x 9 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 16.9 x 3.5 inch
$1,404
Sculpture - 43 x 48 x 8 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 18.9 x 3.1 inch
$1,141
Sculpture - 210 x 170 x 24 cm Sculpture - 82.7 x 66.9 x 9.4 inch
$10,530
Sculpture - 54 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture - 21.3 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch
$2,925
Sculpture - 14 x 7 x 5.2 cm Sculpture - 5.5 x 2.8 x 2 inch
$1,872
Sculpture - 27.5 x 27.5 x 4.5 cm Sculpture - 10.8 x 10.8 x 1.8 inch
$1,404
Sculpture - 78 x 26 x 14 cm Sculpture - 30.7 x 10.2 x 5.5 inch
$5,733
Wood carving refers to a process where material is taken away from a block of wood using a tool like a knife, whereas the term "sculpture" refers to any work of three-dimensional art. Sculptures can be produced using a variety of techniques.
One of the most famous sculptors that has worked with wood carving is Barbara Hepworth. Her work explores themes such as the contrast between the solid and the void, and the relationship between people and nature.
Some of the most famous wood sculptures are those of American artist Ben Butler, such as his abstract large-scale work Unbounded, which he created in 2015. The work is comprised of over 10,000 poplar sticks.
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