Product Description

Duane Hanson (1925-1996) was a significant American sculptor known for his hyper-realistic figures. Raised on a Minnesota farm, Hanson was proud of his family's solid middle-class values. His first realistic sculptures were produced in the turbulent years of the 1960s and reflected the social and political climate of the era. By 1970, Hanson had developed his mature style of portraying American "types"--shoppers, tourists, children, workers, and businessmen. This volume discusses Hanson's artistic development, his sculptures dating between 1976 and 1995, and his contribution to American art.

Along with American artists George Segal, Edward Kienholz, and John De Andrea, Hanson influenced the current interest in hyper-realistic figuration. Hanson's sculptures have helped lead the way to the development of the late 20th-century art movement first identified as Mannequin Art and associated with artists like Paul McCarthy and John Miller, among others.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2144079 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 80 pages

From Library Journal
These two new exhibition catalogs bring to print the captivating work of great American realist Hanson, now acknowledged as one of the 20th century's preeminent sculptors. Hanson specialized in static, life-size portraits cast from live models in polyester resin and fiberglass. Many of them possess a sadness or resignation indicative of the despair that lurks beneath the apparent calmness of everyday life. These tumescent, hyperreal human figures haunt any viewer who encounters them in person, often fooling onlookers into thinking that the figures are actually alive. In fact, art lovers who have experienced the verisimilitude of Hanson's sculptures in the round may find that photographs reduce their impact somewhat and make them appear more mannequin-like than human. As a consequence, More Than Reality, which opens with several two-page spreads, is the more effective of these two books. In addition, Buchsteiner and Letze slip in four essays about the artist and his work, including a short piece that compares Hanson with German expressionist painter Otto Dix. Virtual Reality represents a smaller show that toured West Coast museums last year and provides a good view of a more modest slice of Hanson's oeuvre. As the only two publications available on this influential artist, either title can be highly recommended for all collections. Douglas F. Smith, Oakland P.L., CA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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