Crouching woman
Figure
ca. 1891 (made)
ca. 1891 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In his early work, Rodin strove for anatomical realism, but by the 1890s he adopted a more conceptual approach to his work that anticipated developments in 20th-century sculpture. This figure comprises parts of several different figures - head, limbs and torso - assembled and then cast as a single figure.
This figure is related to Rodin's studies for Iris, Messenger of the Gods, which was intended to surmount a second but uncompleted version of the monument to Victor Hugo commissioned in 1891. The head, limbs and torso, however, were originally completely separate, pre-existing elements. The fusion of these separately conceived pieces disturbs the equilibrium of the sculpture and creates a sense of dynamic unease.
The head exists in an enlarged form in the Musée Rodin, with the title of Large Head for Iris, though it was also called Head of Demeter. A cast of the enlarged version was also given to the V&A as part of Rodin's 1914 gift (See Head of Iris, Museum no. A.41-1914).
This figure is related to Rodin's studies for Iris, Messenger of the Gods, which was intended to surmount a second but uncompleted version of the monument to Victor Hugo commissioned in 1891. The head, limbs and torso, however, were originally completely separate, pre-existing elements. The fusion of these separately conceived pieces disturbs the equilibrium of the sculpture and creates a sense of dynamic unease.
The head exists in an enlarged form in the Musée Rodin, with the title of Large Head for Iris, though it was also called Head of Demeter. A cast of the enlarged version was also given to the V&A as part of Rodin's 1914 gift (See Head of Iris, Museum no. A.41-1914).
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Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Crouching woman (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Crouching woman, by Auguste Rodin, French, bronze, ca. 1891 |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | This work is not inscribed or signed |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Rodin in November 1914 |
| Object history | Given by Rodin in November 1914 |
| Summary | In his early work, Rodin strove for anatomical realism, but by the 1890s he adopted a more conceptual approach to his work that anticipated developments in 20th-century sculpture. This figure comprises parts of several different figures - head, limbs and torso - assembled and then cast as a single figure. This figure is related to Rodin's studies for Iris, Messenger of the Gods, which was intended to surmount a second but uncompleted version of the monument to Victor Hugo commissioned in 1891. The head, limbs and torso, however, were originally completely separate, pre-existing elements. The fusion of these separately conceived pieces disturbs the equilibrium of the sculpture and creates a sense of dynamic unease. The head exists in an enlarged form in the Musée Rodin, with the title of Large Head for Iris, though it was also called Head of Demeter. A cast of the enlarged version was also given to the V&A as part of Rodin's 1914 gift (See Head of Iris, Museum no. A.41-1914). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.40-1914 |
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| Record created | June 5, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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