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Remarkably few sculptors are household names, but Rodin is unquestionably one of the happy few. He is also by far and away the most celebrated and best loved sculptor of the 19th century. His works have become icons of modern art. The Kiss and The Thinker rank among the most famous images in the world, and are universally recognized even by those who have never set foot in a museum. What was so startling about Rodin’s sculptures was their ability to convey raw emotion and individual character in a way that had never been seen before. Working in the same era as the Impressionists, whose canvases were often criticized for looking like unfinished sketches, Rodin’s work pushed further still. Unafraid to unsettle the viewer, Rodin’s figures, often partly encased in stone, looked alarmingly avant-garde. For all the same reasons, Rodin has rightly been considered the father of modern sculpture ever since. Moreover, inspired by Michelangelo’s unfinished works, specifically sculptural fragments of torso and limbs, Rodin’s figures single him out as a precursor of abstraction. His sculptures celebrated sensuality and sexuality and seemed to herald a new age. It was these qualities that threatened the French art establishment for so many years, yet which now assure his continued popularity. His sculptures feel as fresh and accessible today as they did a century ago. Published to accompany the exhibition of the same name in 2014, Rodin: In Private Hands is a selection of works by Rodin curated by the Bowman Gallery. These pieces range from single figures, couples, and groups to isolated torsos, heads, and hands—very few have been seen in public before. Richly illustrated with 227 color photographs of rare pieces never before seen in public, and with an introduction by Robert Bowman and a foreword by Professor David Ekserdjian, this book will be a delight to anyone with an appreciation for Rodin, modern sculpture, or the human figure.
