Auguste Rodin 1893

This portrait of Auguste Rodin was taken by Félix Nadar, a photographer who captured the likenesses of many of Paris's cultural and intellectual elite. Nadar's studio became a meeting place for artists, writers, and revolutionaries. The photograph shows Rodin in profile, his gaze directed beyond the frame. His long beard and simple attire mark him as an artist, a figure set apart from the bourgeoisie, embracing a bohemian identity. However, this carefully constructed persona should not be taken at face value. Nadar’s portrait aesthetic, characterized by strong lighting and clear focus, was intended to reveal the subject’s inner character through their physical appearance. Rodin's intense gaze and furrowed brow seem to suggest the depth of his artistic vision. Yet, this is also a performance, a collaboration between photographer and subject. Nadar’s photograph offers not just a record, but an interpretation of Rodin’s artistic persona. What do you think it meant for Rodin to craft his identity in this way?