The Soul of Bulgarian Stone Ivan Stefanov Lazarov stands as a monumental figure in the history of Bulgarian sculpture, a master who breathed life into stone and wood to capture the very essence of a nation. Born in Karlovo, Bulgaria, his artistic journey was deeply intertwined with the turbulent shifts of the early twentieth century. His formative years were shaped by the profound tragedies of the Balkan Wars and the First World War, experiences that left an indelible mark on his creative psyche. During these periods of conflict, Lazarov began to develop a powerful visual language capable of…