In a sustained burst of daring creativity before World War I, sculptors Jacob Epstein (1880-1959), Eric Gill (1882-1940), and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891-1915) revolutionized modern British sculpture. In this compelling study, celebrated critic Richard Cork provides an in-depth examination of the artists’ influences and works, exploring the idea of wildness that lay at the center of their artistic creed. Reaching beyond the classical canon to gain inspiration from what Gaudier-Brzeska called “the barbaric peoples of the earth (for whom we have sympathy and admiration),” the three artists produced bold, sexually explicit work that shocked viewers and ignited controversy.

Spectacular examples of these sculptures illustrate Cork’s text, including Epstein’s masterpiece, Rock Drill, and Gaudier-Brzeska’s monumental bust of Ezra Pound. With new research on the artists, Wild Thing is an essential reference for lovers of modern sculpture.