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Brâncuși: the sculptor from Hobița
The back story
About Brâncuși: the sculptor from Hobița
Constantin Brâncuși (1876–1957), born in the village of Hobița in Gorj county, became one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. His ensemble at Târgu Jiu, with the Endless Column, the Gate of the Kiss and the Table of Silence, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
From Hobița
Brâncuși grew up in a peasant family, studied in Craiova and at the School of Fine Arts in Bucharest, and in 1904 went abroad, travelling much of the way on foot, to work as a sculptor.
A new kind of sculpture
He left behind realistic modelling for pure, simple forms: birds in flight, heads like eggs, kissing couples carved from a single block. The carved wooden gates, pillars and patterns of the Romanian countryside are often seen in his work.
The Endless Column rises almost 30 metres in a park in Târgu Jiu.
Târgu Jiu
In 1937–38, Brâncuși created a memorial ensemble in Târgu Jiu for the soldiers who fell defending the town in the First World War: the Table of Silence, the Gate of the Kiss and the Endless Column, linked by the Avenue of the Heroes. The ensemble was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2024.
Where to see his work
Târgu Jiu is the essential pilgrimage, and the Art Museum in Craiova holds several of his works.
Our advice: Târgu Jiu is about four hours from Bucharest by car or train; walk the whole axis from the Table of Silence to the Endless Column, ideally in the late afternoon light.
Why it's on our list
- From Hobița
- A new kind of sculpture
- Târgu Jiu
- Where to see his work
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Brâncuși: the sculptor from Hobița before you go.