Constantin Brâncuși was a pioneer of modern sculpture, known for reducing forms to their purest essence. Born in Romania and later based in Paris, he moved away from the expressive detail of artists like Rodin toward a language of clean lines, smooth surfaces, and geometric simplicity. His works—such as Bird in Space and The Endless Column—capture not the appearance of things, but their underlying idea or movement, making him one of the most influential figures in 20th-century art.