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Who was Rodin? A brief introduction to his work and talent.

Writer's picture: Olivier BlancOlivier Blanc

Category: Art

Contributor: Olivier Blanc


dynamic portrait Illustration representing the artist Rodin, a lot of contrast in black and white and captivating line strokes

Portrait of Auguste Rodin

by Swedish artist Anders Zorn

Date: 1906

(The Met collection)


Auguste Rodin was an influential French sculptor who remains an essential reference in the world of sculpture today. He is behind iconic pieces such as The Thinker (Le Penseur) and The Kiss (Le Baiser).


Born in 1840, Rodin was a student of Carpeaux and Bare, two prominent sculptors of that era. Initially, he focused his attention on artistic ornamentation to later travel to Italy to carefully study the work of Michelangelo. There, Rodin's work took a significant turn.


The Bronze Age, his first remarkable statues, were exhibited in 1878. They gave such an impression of truth that Rodin was accused of having moulded them on living people instead of having sculpted them.


Terracotta head portrait study of an experessive Honore de Balzac

As a sculptor, Rodin best exemplified movement in his art pieces. Working with many models who were dancers, he had the fantastic ability to express the strength and feelings of his characters. Another evidence of his aptness to express emotions lies within his statue of Balzac (1892-97) and the very famous group of Bourgeois de Calais (1884-89).


Upon his death in 1917, Rodin donated most of his works to the French state.


Photograph on the left: preparatory studies for Honoré de Balzac's monument. Medium: Terracotta / Date: 1891 (The Met collection)



Series of sketches produced by Auguste Rodin between 1871 and 1907 (from The Met collection)


Discover more about Rodin’s best-known public monument:

The Burghers of Calais (1884–95) (The Met)


Sculpture by Rodin of the Burghers of Calais

Sculpture of Le Penseur by Rodin

On the left:

Le Penseur, 1904

(The Met)


Below:

Pair of Standing Nude Male Figures Demonstrating the Principles of Contrapposto according to Michelangelo and Phidias

ca.1911 (The Met)


Terracotta made figures of two standing nude males

Photo below:

Cupid and Psyche /Before 1893 (The Met)

With this sculpture, Rodin explores the chronicle of lost love. Under the directive of the envious goddess Venus, Cupid is forsaking the mortal Psyche.

As she holds on to Cupid upon an unfinished white marble block, Psyche is in a desperate mood. Cupid, meanwhile, is lowering his countenance towards her while his wings beat in ascendance.

The protruding marble support connecting Cupid's arm to the block symbolically immortalises the fated separation of the lovers.


Black and white photograph representing a marble sculpture study of Cupid and Psyche by Rodin


Further research:

- Camille Claudel

- Michaelangelo

- Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux


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