Auguste Rodin is best known today for his over-life-sized sculptures like The Thinker and The Kiss. But did you know that these works were not originally planned as stand-alone sculptures? In their original conception, they were small parts of a larger and more complex project: The Gates of Hell.
In this virtual visit, we'll follow up on my Instagram post in order to learn more about Rodin, his artistic practices, and how his unorthodox style led him to become the "father of modern sculpture" at the end of the 19th century. We'll also break down the Gates of Hell to learn more about its history, contents, and how its parts became eventually became some of the most-loved sculptures of our time.
The usual reminder: the primary venue for this content is the stories feature on my Instagram page. All of the virtual visits will be saved in my story highlights. The purpose of the blog posts is to allow a greater audience (especially those without social media accounts) to benefit from the same content.
With that in mind, let's look at some Rodin!
What do you think? Do you prefer The Thinker and The Kiss in their independent, over-life-sized glory, or would you rather appreciate them in their Gates of Hell context?