Portrait of Henri Becque 1893

Auguste Rodin created this print of Henri Becque, the French playwright known for his naturalist dramas, using drypoint on laid paper. Rodin, living in a time of significant social change in France, captured the complexities of identity and representation through his art. Here, Becque is depicted in triplicate, each view offering a different perspective, yet together suggesting a multifaceted personality. This approach moves beyond traditional portraiture, hinting at the inner turmoil and contradictions within Becque, whose plays often challenged the norms of bourgeois society. As Rodin once said, "The artist is the confidant of nature." It is as if he sought to reveal the true nature of his subject, unfiltered and raw. The use of drypoint, with its characteristic burr, gives the image a sense of immediacy and intimacy, drawing us closer to Becque's likeness. This piece reflects how artists navigated representing individuals within the changing cultural landscape of late 19th-century France. It reminds us of the power of art to explore the depths of human character.