Detail of figures carved in Gustav Vigeland Monolith in Oslo

A close-up detail of Vigeland Monolith reveals the extraordinary mastery of the Norwegian sculptor in representing the human body. The 121 intertwined figures emerge from the stone in a tangle of bodies symbolizing the cycle of human life from birth to death. The texture of Norwegian granite enhances the volumes of the figures, while raking light accentuates the anatomical details. Each figure has its own expression and position, contributing to the ascending movement of the whole.

Monolith detail, Vigeland sculpture, human figures, Norwegian granite