Sonsbeek ’52: International Sculpture Exhibition
30 May – 15 September 1952, Park Sonsbeek, Arnhem
Inleiding
Following the success of Sonsbeek ’49, the second edition of the exhibition took place in 1952. The concept and goal were similar: to display art in the open air and introduce the public to contemporary sculpture. As with the first edition, a jury of art experts and members of the Dutch Circle of Sculptors selected the artists and works to be shown in the park. Once again, there was a small thatched pavilion where smaller sculptures were displayed, though unfortunately few photographs of it have survived.
Unlike the first edition, which featured primarily Dutch artists, Sonsbeek ’52 focused on international artists, with special attention to renowned French sculptors from the neoclassical movement. Works by Auguste Rodin, Aristide Maillol, Charles Despiau, and Antoine Bourdelle drew significant attention. Rodin’s famous sculptural group The Burghers of Calais was considered by the jury to be one of the highlights of the exhibition.
At the same time, Sonsbeek ’52 provided space for innovative and abstract art. The Italian Marino Marini presented his Equestrian Statue, while the French artist Jean Arp showcased the organic forms of his Pre-Adamitic Torso. A true eye-catcher was Alexander Calder’s mobile, a kinetic artwork that swayed gently in the wind, bringing the park literally to life.
Sonsbeek ’52 confirmed that Arnhem could provide an international platform for sculpture, where classical and modern movements met in the open air.
Artists
- Mari Andriessen
- W. Anthoons
- Jean Arp
- Ernst Barlach
- O. Baum
- Marius van Beek
- Mogens Boggild
- G. Bolhuis
- Antoine Bourdelle
- G. Brinkgreve
- H. Bronner
- D. Bus
- Alexander Calder
- Jozef Cantré
- Fred Carasso
- F. C. Carbasius
- M. Caron
- Robert Couturier
- Wessel Couzijn
- Pearl Couzijn-Perlmuter
- Charles Despiau
- Liesbeth Dobbelmann
- Pauline Eecen
- Vincent P.S. Esser
- Pericle Fazzini
- W. Frass
- J. Goldenbeld
- G. Grard
- Emilio Greco
- Paul Gregoire
- John Grosman
- Ben Guntenaar
- Roel D’Haese
- P. Harth
- Jan Willem Havermans
- H. Heerup
- Bernard Heiliger
- Annie van der Heide-Hemsing
- Fri Heil
- Henny Everdine
- Pieter D’Hont
- Hermann Hubacher
- Cor Hund
- Hans Ittmann
- Oscar Jespers
- Gijs Jacobs van den Hof
- Nel Klaassen
- Carel Kneulman
- Georg Kolbe
- Paul Ph. Koning
- J. S. Kreijkamp
- Hildo Krop
- F. Krsinic
- Titus Leeser
- Kurt Lehmann
- Wilhelm Lehmbruck
- Heinz Leinfeller
- Charles Leplae
- Jacques Lipchitz
- L. Lipchitz
- Hubert van Lith
- J. van Luyn
- M. Macken
- Aristide Maillol
- Gerhard Marcks
- Marino Marini
- Marcello Mascherini
- Jan P. W. Meefout
- I. Mestrovic
- Loekie Metz
- Constant Meunier
- Alfred Meyer
- Luciano Minguzzi
- George Minne
- Henry Moore
- K. Nellemose
- Astrid Noach
- M. Pauw
- Constant Permeke
- François Pompon
- J. E. van Praag
- Henri Puvrez
- Josepha Rab van Riemsdijk
- V. Radaus
- John. A. Raedecker
- T. van Reijn
- Auguste Renoir
- Willem Reyers
- Germaine Richier
- J. Richters
- A. Riedel
- J. Rivière
- Auguste Rodin
- Emy Roeder
- Jacob M. Roosenburg
- T. Rosandic
- Remo Rossi
- A. C. Roth
- Gra J.W. Rueb
- Gerarda Rueter
- W. de Sanderes-Hendrikz
- G. Saupique
- A. P. Schaller
- E. Scharff
- Kees Schrikker
- Cephas Stauthamer
- N. Steenbergen
- K. Stemolak
- C. Steynberg
- Piet van Stuyvenberg
- E. Suter
- A. J. P. F. Teeuwisse
- F. Verhaak
- Hans Verhulst
- A. Viani
- Carel Visser
- A. Wansart
- Charles Weddepohl
- Ludwig Oswald Wenkebach
- Johannes Gustaaf Wertheim
- Han Wezelaar
- D. Wolbers
- Fritz Wotruba
- Rik Wouters
- Ossip Zadkine
- Johan van Zweden
Location
- Park Sonsbeek
Facts and figures
110,000 visits · 129 artists · 220 artworks · more emphasis on French master like Auguste Rodin and Aristide Maillol · first Sonsbeek with works by Italian artists
Publication
— Catalog · Sonsbeek ’52, 1952 · Design: unknown · Publisher: unknown
