The Thinker by Auguste Rodin.
In the late 19th century, Paris was a hub for Impressionists and other pioneering artists of all mediums.
His talent was not limited to the three-dimensional.
“The Thinker” by Auguste Rodin. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom YULIIA MYRONIUK/Shutterstock)
His sketches of human subjects are as emotive as the figures he molded in clay.
Scroll down and learn more about Rodin and his incredible work.
The Artist’s Early Years
Auguste Rodin, photographed by Nadar in 1891.
Auguste Rodin, photographed by Nadar in 1891. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
(Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Rodin was born in Paris in 1840 to working-class parents.
He began drawing as a child before entering formal studies at thePetite Ecole.
At 17, he made the first of three unsuccessful attempts to be admitted to the famousEcole des Beaux-Arts.
“Age of Bronze,” by Auguste Rodin, modeled 1876, cast circa 1906. (Photo:The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public domain)
Although he used a clay sculpture as his program, it apparently did not impress the school.
After school, Rodin began working as an artisan, crafting decorative ornaments for mantels and other uses.
Age of Bronze, by Auguste Rodin, modeled 1876, cast circa 1906.
“Eternal Spring,” by Auguste Rodin,modeled circa 1881, carved 1907. (Photo:The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public domain)
The same year the joined the studio, 1866, his son Auguste-Eugene was born.
Auguste-Eugene’s mother, Rose Beuret, and Rodin had begun their relationship two years prior.
The bronze sculpture apparently caused some stir in Paris.
“Mask of the Man with the Broken Nose,” modeled 1863 – 1864, cast before 1882. (Photo:RISD, Public domain)
Viewers thought it was too good to be true and that it must have been cast from life.
Despite this skepticism, Rodin’s career as a legitimate sculptor was established.
He worked there part-time until his private art commissions were able to support his family.
“The Gates of Hell,” by Auguste Rodin, a modern copy made from the original plaster, displayed in Zurich. (Photo:Roland zhvia Wikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
Working with live models, Rodin would sculpt small statues with his own hands.
These works were then replicated on a larger scale by his assistants.
From the clay original, a plaster cast would be made.
“The Kiss,” by Auguste Rodin, c. 1881-1882. (Photo: Tylwyth Eldar viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0)
This cast allowed for multiple commissions or copies of one work to be created.
The final sculptures were usually cast in bronze or carved in marble.
At times, Rodin combined body parts of separate plaster casts to craft new figures.
“The Burghers of Calais,” by Auguste Rodin, modeled 1884–95, cast 1985. (Photo:The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public domain)
Like many of Rodin’s sculptures, both the aforementioned displayed the human body in the nude.
Inspired by the greats such as Michelangelo, Rodin’s works were popularalthough not free of critiquein France.
The workand Rodin’s other two sculptureswere curtained off for the curious to peek at.
“Monument to Honoré Balzac,” by Auguste Rodin, modeled 1892–1897, cast 1939. (Photo:Britchi Mirelavia Wikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
Guided by Hallowell, American collectors began to turn their eyes to the French artist.
It was originally rejected because it deferred from the idealized portraits that were commonly accepted.
Rodin, however, was proud of the work and said it informed all his later sculptures.
“The Abandoned,” by Auguste Rodin, 1898–1907. (Photo:The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public domain)
The deep wrinkles and distorted features were of great interest to Rodin.
The 20-foot-high masterpiece never had a home in the museum, as those plans came to nothing.
However, Rodin’s sculpture became important in its own right.
The Rodin Museum, Paris. (Photo: Michael Scaduto viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 2.0)
The figures of the door allegorically and literally illustrate Dante’sInferno, part of the Renaissance epicThe Divine Comedy.
In this work, Rodin demonstrated his immense talent in illustrating emotion through the human body.
The Kiss
The Kiss, by Auguste Rodin, c. 1881-1882.
Among the other figures created forThe Gates of Hellare a couple entwined inThe Kiss.
Among those who requested a monument was the French channel-side town of Calais.
Rodin’sThe Burghers of Calaisdebuted in 1889.
However, the work was elevated on a pedestal in the end.
In the case of Balzac, he focused on capturing the writer’s persona rather than his likeness.
His depiction of Balzac was defended by fellow Parisian artists, including Claude Monet and Claude Debussy.
It was only well after his death, in 1939, that theMonument to Balzacwas cast in bronze.
Today it stands in Paris at the intersection of Boulevard du Montparnasse and Boulevard Raspail.
While not strictly an Impressionist, Rodin was a man apart.
They loved flesh, which Rodin sensualized and Renoir prettified, both shamelessly.
Rodin had no avant-gardist desire to reject academic convention, which, nonetheless, rejected him.
The Impressionists bucked tradition, and Rodin defied explicit categorization even with the artistic legends of his day.
Rodin’s Works on Paper
The Abandoned, by Auguste Rodin, 18981907.
Over his career, he created over10,000 drawingsincluding many nudes.
Late in his life, Rodin said, Its very simple.
My drawings are the key to my work.
Rodin Today
The Rodin Museum, Paris.
Today, his work is found in museums and as monuments around the world.
However, the place to be for any fan of the late sculptor is theMusee Rodinin France.
Visitors will also find some of the artist’s collection of ancient sculptures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rodin’s work so important?
Rodin revolutionized sculpture because he worked outside the traditionally accepted style of his time.
After rising up from working as a decorator, his fine art forged a new path.
He created sculptures that were not idealized versions of their models, but showed highly expressive versions of individuals.
For this reason, Rodin is considered the father of modern sculpture.
Was Rodin inspired by Michelangelo?
Yes, when Rodin traveled to Italy in 1875, he fell in love with Michelangelo’s sculpture.
Where can I find Rodin’s sculptures?
Rodin’s sculptures can be found in collections around the world.
It is not unusual to find multiple bronze casts of the same piece.
However, true lovers of Rodin will want to visit theMusee Rodinin France.
Learn About This Important Neoclassical Sculptor
