Head of a Woman c. 1880s

Auguste Rodin sculpted this “Head of a Woman” in the late 19th or early 20th century. The closed eyes are the dominant motif. In ancient Greek art, closed eyes often symbolized sleep or death, conveying a sense of peace or eternal rest. This motif appears again and again across time. Think of the closed eyes of countless effigies and funerary sculptures throughout the ages. This iconography is often used to evoke contemplation or introspection. The emotional power lies in the psychological association of closed eyes with inner peace, death, and the mysteries of the subconscious. This motif triggers deep-seated feelings and memories, engaging the viewer on a subconscious level. Thus, this symbol transcends time, reappearing in diverse forms and contexts, each time imbued with new layers of meaning while retaining its fundamental emotional resonance.