Auguste Rodin 1892

This bronze portrait of Auguste Rodin was made by Camille Claudel at an unknown date. Claudel was a gifted artist in her own right and one of many women artists who were drawn to Paris in the late 19th century. At this time, art institutions such as the École des Beaux-Arts were slowly opening to women, but their participation was still limited. Claudel became Rodin's student, assistant, and lover. However, her contribution was often overshadowed by Rodin's fame, and she struggled to gain recognition for her independent work. The sculpture captures Rodin with a sensitive and penetrating gaze. The rough texture and expressive modeling reflect the influence of Rodin's style, yet it also conveys Claudel's unique artistic vision. To fully understand Claudel's career, we need to look into exhibition records, biographies, and feminist art history scholarship. These can help us understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production in 19th-century France and the challenges faced by women artists.