Sculptors Against the State: Anarchism and the Anglo-European Avant-Garde

Sculptors Against the State explores the relationship between anarchist ideology and avant-garde sculpture by examining the work of three iconic artists: Umberto Boccioni, Jacob Epstein, and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. It demonstrates how sculptural processes were shaped by forms of anarchism calculated to foster a radical community, addressing complex subjects such as sexual liberation, homosexuality, the history of emotions, the ethics of violence, and tactics of nonviolent resistance. The book argues that these sculptors saw the arts as a radical catalyst for an entirely new constellation of interpersonal relations and psychological dispositions antithetical to those propagated by the State.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2022
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

Sculptors Against the State delves into the intricate relationship between anarchist ideology and avant-garde sculpture, exploring the profound impact of three iconic artists on European modernism: Umberto Boccioni, Jacob Epstein, and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. Through a comprehensive examination of their work, Mark Antliff demonstrates how sculptural processes were shaped by forms of anarchism aimed at fostering a radical community.

The book addresses a range of complex subjects, including sexual liberation, homosexuality, the history of emotions, the ethics of violence, and tactics of nonviolent resistance. Antliff showcases how these artists' work transformed European modernism, challenging the dominant social and political norms of their time.

At the heart of Sculptors Against the State is the notion that the State is not merely a physical entity but a state of mind and a set of social relationships. Antliff uses this perspective to explore the art of Boccioni, Epstein, and Gaudier-Brzeska, as well as the associated aesthetics of radical luminaries such as Oscar Wilde, F. T. Marinetti, and Ezra Pound. By examining Boccionis Unique Forms of Continuity in Space, Epstein's Tomb of Oscar Wilde, and Gaudier-Brzeskas Hieratic Head of Ezra Pound, Antliff argues that these sculptors saw the arts as a radical catalyst for an entirely new constellation of interpersonal relations and psychological dispositions.

In contrast to the State's propagated norms, these sculptors sought to create a society that was based on freedom, individuality, and mutual respect. Antliff's work is meticulously argued and informed by extensive archival research, providing a fresh and insightful understanding of these artists and their contributions to modern art.

Furthermore, Sculptors Against the State sheds light on the relevance of contemporary anarchist theory for understanding the profound cultural impact modernism had during the twentieth century. Antliff's book will appeal to students and scholars of modernist art and literature, particularly those interested in the intersections between artistic practice and politics.

Weight: 850g
Dimension: 204 x 242 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271092638