Constantin Brancusi: Photographs

Readily acknowledged as one of the great sculptors of the century, Constantin Brancusi the photographer is far less widely known. Paradoxically, his sculptural output is relatively small, comprising only around 215 known works. At least 40 of these—mainly from his early period—have since disappeared or been destroyed, surviving only in photographs. In a sense, throughout his long life he seemed to follow Rodin’s advice: “Above all, don’t work too quickly.” Yet he left behind an impressive number of photographs: 560 original negatives, the vast majority on glass plates, and about 1,250 original prints, some made irreplaceable by the loss of their negatives. These were discovered in his studio at the time of his death in 1957, together with a complete photographic outfit—camera, lenses, darkroom equipment, tripod, chemical solutions, and more. The sheer volume of this material makes it clear that Brancusi’s engagement with photography was more than incidental.