skulptuur

Skulptuur, in Dutch, refers to sculpture, the art of creating three-dimensional forms by shaping materials such as stone, metal, wood, clay, or, in contemporary practice, plastics and composites. A sculpture can be carved, modeled, cast, or constructed, and may be designed to be viewed from a single angle or in the round. It may also exist as relief, attached to a surface, or as an installation conceived for a specific space.

Traditional techniques include carving, modeling, casting, and assembling. Stone and bronze remain common media, while wood, terracotta, and plaster have long histories. In the 20th century, artists expanded practices to include welded metal, found materials, readymades, and, more recently, digital fabrication, 3D printing, and kinetic or interactive elements.

Sculpture has a long and diverse history across cultures. In ancient civilizations, works conveyed religion, power, or myth. During the Renaissance, sculptors pursued anatomical accuracy and harmony; the Baroque period emphasized drama and motion. In the 19th and 20th centuries, abstraction and minimalism broadened the field. Public sculpture and monuments remained important, while contemporary practice often intersects with architecture, performance, and urban space.

Prominent sculptors include Michelangelo, Rodin, Brancusi, Giacometti, Henry Moore, and Isamu Noguchi. Their works illustrate a range from figurative and monumentality to abstract form, material exploration, and space-defining installations.