Duane Hanson

Duane Hanson (1925-1996) was a significant American sculptor known for his hyper-realistic figures. Raised on a Minnesota farm, Hanson was proud of his family's solid middle-class values. His first realistic sculptures were produced in the turbulent years of the 1960s and reflected the social and political climate of the era. By 1970, Hanson had developed his mature style of portraying American "types"-shoppers, tourists, children, workers, and businessmen. This volume discusses Hanson's artistic development, his sculptures dating between 1976 and 1995, and his contribution to American art. Along with American artists George Segal, Edward Kienholz, and John De Andrea, Hanson influenced the current interest in hyper-realistic figuration. Hanson's sculptures have helped lead the way to the development of the late 20th-century art movement first identified as Mannequin Art and associated with artists like Paul McCarthy and John Miller, among others.