A pioneer in the international studio glass movement, Erwin Eisch helped establish the medium in Europe with his distinctively distorted glass vessels and imaginative sculptures of mold-blown glass. His works--which also include paintings, drawings, and vitreographic prints--are important as well for the challenge they pose to the distinctions among the art forms, as well as between concreteness and abstraction. With contributions by scholars well-versed in Eisch's body of work, this book provides an introduction to the artist and an in-depth look at his development, from his start within the glassmaker tradition of the Bavarian Forest to the present. Eisch began with functional vessels, including bottles, vases, and steins, often distorting the hot glass to create interesting, imperfect shapes. Incorporating ceramic molds, he also produced painted glass sculptures, including a series of busts that depict Picasso, Buddha, and friend and fellow glass artist Harvey Littleton. Later, Eisch's creative output expanded to include drawings, paintings, and prints. Eisch's works are inspired by reality, but move well beyond it to incorporate vivid elements of imagination and fantasy. In addition to the essays and more than one hundred illustrations of Eisch's work, the book contains selected writings by the artist himself.

Erwin Eisch, a pioneer of the international Studio Glass movement, has helped establish the medium in Europe. His distinctively distorted glass vessels and imaginative sculptures of mould-blown glass challenge the distinctions between art forms and between realism and abstraction. This book also includes Eischs paintings, drawings and vitreographic prints. This book provides an introduction to the artist, from his development within the glass-making tradition of the Bavarian Forest to the present. Eisch began with functional vessels, including bottles, vases and steins, often distorting the hot glass, incorporating ceramic moulds and producing painted glass sculptures. Eisch uses glass, painting, drawing and printed graphics to overcome the borders between picture and sculpture. His later output includes drawings, paintings and prints. Eischs works incorporate vivid elements of imagination and fantasy, which supplement the reality that inspires him. This book includes essays, contributions by experts on his work, more than one hundred illustrations of Eischs work, and selected writings by the artist himself.