When you think of Auguste Rodin, the famous French sculptor, perhaps you envision one of his most famous works, The Thinker.
You may not be aware that he also had a body of work linked to the world of dance. In fact, currently, the Musée Rodin is highlighting his interest and work focused on dancers with an exhibition featuring the famous “Dance Movements” series. According to the museum’s website, these were never shown in the sculptor’s lifetime, and include a selection of 50 drawings.
Musée Rodin’s site notes of the exhibit, “Rodin’s fascination with dance will be illustrated by his encounters with the dancers of the time, such as Isadora Duncan, Loïe Fuller, the dancers of the Cambodian royal ballet and the Japanese dancer Hanako. A selection of outstanding works including sculptures, photographs, drawings and antiquities will immerse visitors in a world of grace and poetry.”
As one of the great classical sculptors of all time, Rodin is one of my mentors.
His work always seemed to capture a dancer’s intimate movement. The admirer can experience how the artist portrays how the slightest turn of the head or hip or shoulder impacts the resulting form.
In my own work, I really enjoy creating this quiet “movement,” as Rodin did. For example, each motion in my piece, “TuTu” (pictured) is intended to be inspirational and gives the piece a lively balance between motion and the dancer’s perfect pose. The bronze sculpture’s dimensions are 20″H x 14″W.
This bronze sculpture, and other pieces featured on my site, are available for purchase. Contact me to discuss ordering.
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