On the Problem of Plateau

The most immediate one-dimensional variation problem is certainly the problem of determining an arc of curve, bounded by two given and having a smallest possible length. The problem of deter­ points mining and investigating a surface with given boundary and with a smallest possible area might then be considered as the most immediate two-dimensional variation problem. The classical work, concerned with the latter problem, is summed up in a beautiful and enthusiastic manner in DARBOUX'S Theorie g