20th Century Sculpture
During the early decades of the 20th century, Cubism removed many of the hallowed principles that defined traditional plastic art, and this lead to an increase in experimentation in sculptures. New abstract expressions of space and movement became the norm, often using materials never used before. World War I and the 1917 Russian Revolution were also influential in this shift, catalyzing movements like Dada and Constructivism. Modern artists began producing works of art that were made with ‘found objects’ such as Duchamp’s “readymades”. In the mid-20th century, Surrealism replaced Dada, and this movement encompassed geometric abstraction as well as classical realism. Another monumental moment for 20th century sculpture was the rise of Pop-Art in the late 1950s-1970s. Pop-Art acted as the bridge between Modernist and Postmodernist art. Finally, in the 1970s, the rise of contemporary art was becoming increasingly popular and artists began to experiment more with it. Art historians refer to this period as postmodernism, which alludes to a different form of art that is challenging and has its own set of values and aesthetics.
20th Century Sculpture is featured in Edition: The Best of the Met
