Anyone who uses a hammer and chisel to shape a piece of natural stone into an image according to their own ideas and looks for how-to books will be disappointed. The sparse literature on stone sculpture stands in sharp contrast to the countless cookbooks for the home cook.
The virtuosity of famous stone sculptors lies above all in their insightful sculptures. The sculptor Leo de Vries is a case in point. When asked why he did something one way or another, he always replied briefly: "This is how it should be" or "Here it is".
How are stone statues invented and made? Unravelling the creative process is the leitmotif of this book.
The main sections of the text deal with important parts of the trade, natural stone, design, carving and life support.
The book contains a language glossary on stonemasonry and a short chapter on letter paragraphs.
The practical words on the creation of a stone statue are enlivened by metaphorical stories, powerful quotes, surprising texts and various illustrations. Points of interest and tips have been briefly summarised for five topics: Principles of Stone Sculpture, Criteria for Choosing Stone, Traces for Creation, Three-Stroke Chopping and Hints for the Physical. These overviews serve as a reminder.