Contains an introduction by Naum Gabo entitled The Constructive Idea in Art, and sections on Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Art and Life, each with original contributions by artists.

Plates 9-11 for the chapter on Sculpture show LH 161 (from front and back) and LH 174. Plate 4 for J.D. Bernal's "Art and the Scientist" shows LH 145.

p.118: two quotations by Moore, which are reprinted in Henry Moore on Sculpture (See 0005627).

"1. I dislike the idea that contemporary art is an escape from life. Because a work does not aim at reproducing the natural appearance it is not therefore an escape from life, it may be a penetrating into reality; not a sedative or drug, not just the exercise of good taste, the provision of pleasant shapes and colours in a pleasing combination, not a decoration to life, but an expression of the significance of life, a stimulation to greater effort in living.
2. Architecture and sculpture are both dealing with the relationship of masses. In practice architecture is not pure expression but has a functional or utilitarian purpose, which limits it as an art of pure expression. And sculpture, more naturally than architecture, can use organic rhythms. Aesthetically architecture is the abstract relationship of masses. If sculpture is limited to this, then in the field of scale and size architecture has the advantage; but sculpture, not being tied to a functional and utilitarian purpose, can attempt much more freely the exploration of the world of pure form."

Reprinted 1971 (see 0004456).