Auguste Rodin
ABOUT THE ARITST
Auguste Rodin was a pioneering French sculptor whose work transformed the language of modern sculpture. Born in 1840, he broke from academic conventions by emphasizing emotion, texture, and movement over idealized form. Rodin sought to capture the vitality of the human body and the psychological depth of his subjects, often leaving surfaces raw to convey energy and spontaneity. His sculptures, such as The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Burghers of Calais, embody a powerful realism balanced by expressive abstraction.
Rodin’s creative process was deeply experimental—he worked with fragments, repetitions, and variations, challenging traditional ideas of completeness and perfection. His workshop operated like an artist’s laboratory, where assistants helped translate clay and plaster models into bronze and marble. Although initially controversial, his approach redefined sculpture as a medium of thought and emotion rather than static representation. By the time of his death in 1917, Rodin had become a central figure in modern art, influencing generations of sculptors who followed. His legacy endures not only through his iconic works but also through his vision of sculpture as a living, evolving form of expression.
PROJECTS:
MUSÉE RODIN
Paris - France
ADDRESS:
77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
ACCESS:
General: €15 | Under 18: FREE
HOURS:
Open from 10am - 6:30pm Tuesday-Sunday.
The Musée Rodin in Paris offers an intimate encounter with the work and life of Auguste Rodin, set within the elegant 18th-century Hôtel Biron and its surrounding sculpture gardens. The museum’s architecture reflects both refinement and tranquility, providing a serene backdrop to Rodin’s emotionally charged bronzes, marbles, and plasters. Sunlight pours through tall windows, animating the textures and gestures of his figures, while the gardens extend the experience outdoors, where masterpieces like The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, and The Burghers of Calais stand amid trees and fountains.
The dialogue between art, architecture, and nature defines the museum’s atmosphere—each element enhancing the others. The classical proportions of the building emphasize Rodin’s exploration of human form and movement, while the gardens invite reflection on scale, light, and emotion. Beyond showcasing his sculptures, the museum preserves Rodin’s creative process through drawings, fragments, and studies, offering a glimpse into the artist’s experimentation and intensity. The Musée Rodin remains a rare space where architecture, art, and landscape combine to reveal the depth and humanity of one of modern sculpture’s defining voices.
DESCRIPTION:
A personal favorite, this is a great museum with a massive collection. The works are both inside and outside in the gardens. best to plan this one on a nice weather day. The museum is FREE the first Sunday of the month between October and March.
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