British Artists: Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein was a pioneer of modern sculptures in Britain. Yet he always felt an outsider in his adopted country, sujected as he was to relentless attack and vilification. With his determination to break the taboos surrounding the depiction of sexuality, and his use of expressive distortion of the figure in a manner modelled more on non-Western art than the classic ideal, he aroused hostility throughout his career, and the true nature of his overall achievement has often been overlooked.
Description
Jacob Epstein was a pioneer of modern sculptures in Britain. Yet he always felt an outsider in his adopted country, sujected as he was to relentless attack and vilification. With his determination to break the taboos surrounding the depiction of sexuality, and his use of expressive distortion of the figure in a manner modelled more on non-Western art than the classic ideal, he aroused hostility throughout his career, and the true nature of his overall achievement has often been overlooked. This publication intends to redress the balance. It provides a fascinating account of a sculptor who had a profound influence on successive generations of artists – not only for his carving but also for his courage.
Richard Cork is Chief Art Critic for the Times. His published books include a study of Vorticism, Art Beyond the Gallery, David Bomberg, and A Bitter Truth: Avant-Garde Art and the Great War.