Claudel, Camille (1864-1943)
Auguste Rodin
c.1884–1885
Bronze, 40 x 25 x 28 cm
Musée Camille Claudel, Nogent-sur-Seine
For the only portrait she sculpted of Auguste Rodin, Camille Claudel adopted a style close to the works of her elder, so much so that it is sometimes described as a “self-portrait by proxy.” The sculptress accentuated the modeling to enhance the expressiveness of the face, concentrating all the energy in the gaze, which embodies the sculptor’s creative power. Extremely sculpted, the beard seems to transform into a rock at the bottom, in a sculptural motif that breaks free from the conventions of representation. This formal freedom is emblematic of Claudel‘s personal style and evokes the treatment of hair in other compositions by her. It is also one of the most striking images of the master, who often chose this bust to represent himself in his solo exhibitions. This particular example is among those commissioned from the artist by the magazine Mercure de France. We know from her correspondence that Claudel was contractually responsible for its carving. There is a very rough style in the chisel strokes forming furrows on the temples and upper cheeks to give even more movement to the hair and beard. (MCC)
See also:
• Rodin, Auguste (1840-1917)