Lebensgroßen

Lebensgroßen is the declined form of the German adjective lebensgroß, which designates a size that matches real life, i.e., a 1:1 scale. The term is commonly used in art, sculpture, film, theater, and display contexts to describe representations that are as large as in reality. While lebensgroß is the base form, its endings vary with gender, number, and case, for example: eine lebensgroße Statue (feminine singular), das lebensgroße Pferd (neuter singular), den lebensgroßen Mann (masculine singular accusative), or dem lebensgroßen Modell (masculine singular dative). Predicative use is common as well: Die Statue ist lebensgroß.

Usage and contexts: In sculpture and monuments, lebensgroße Figuren are created to depict real people or subjects at actual size, enhancing presence and realism. In museums, galleries, and memorials, life-sized statues and busts are frequently described as lebensgroß. In film, theater, and exhibition design, lebensgroße Requisiten and Figuren helfen, glaubwürdige Szenerien zu vermitteln. In architecture and design, the term can apply to models or figures used for scale comparisons or visualizations, often contrasted with miniaturized or scaled models (for example, 1:1 Maßstab versus 1:50).

Relation to other terms: Lebensgroß implies a 1:1 scale, distinct from reduced scales (maßstäblich kleiner) or oversized but not life-size. It is often paired with phrases like lebensgroße Darstellung, lebensgroße Figur, or lebensgroße Statue to describe specific forms.

See also: Life-size in art and design; 1:1 Maßstab; determine scale in sculpture.