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The Thinker by Auguste Rodin
Art is defined as the expression of creativity and imagination in a visual form, including paintings scriptures. Besides, it involves creating works that can be adored for their emotional power and beauty. The Thinker is a sculpture created by Auguste Rodin in 1880 as part of artworks for the doorway surround named The Gates of Hell. Rodin drew these pieces of art from the Divine Comedy composed by Dante Alighieri, with most sculptures representing the protagonists of the poem. Auguste Robin has been identified for iconic work that has a significant impact and influence on art. Among his creations include “The Thinker,” “The Burghers of Calais,” and “The Age of Bronze.” His work and fame weren’t recognized until he was over forty years. Initially known as “The Vanquished,” renamed as “The Age of Bronze,” was among the controversial pieces (Corbett 5).
The Thinker is a monument that depicts a man sitting on a rock, deep in thought. Leaning forward with his elbow on his knee, hands supporting his chin and his eyes cast downwards. Rodin posited that the sculpture represented a man sitting but restless (Takano & Sands, 2016). He postulated that thinking is a powerful exercise that requires not only the brain but also with all muscles of the body. Additionally, it is a belief the sculptor represents Dante Alighieri, a poet. In the sculptor, Rodin depicts Dante reflecting on his famous divine poem incorporating the story about heaven, hell, and the destiny of human beings (Takano & Sands, 2016). Later on, the sculptor was used to symbolize every person that uses imagination to create; these are such as artists, scientists, and authors. Therefore the Thinker is a sculpture that celebrates the creative achievements of the human race.
Rodin developed The Thinker in a manner that reflects the heroes of Michelangelo. The process that the Thinker was created involves the use of preliminary sketches and models prepared by Rodin. Later on, he would serve his assistant with the drawing to carve the full-size marble for the artwork. Afterward, Rodin would work on the size marble to ensure that the artwork satisfied the expected standards. To rectify the mistakes, he would add final touches to the piece of art. The nude sculpture is taunting, bold, and muscular, thus, depicting Rodin’s high regard for creative thinkers such as Dante. The placement of the figure is intriguing as it sparks the meditative mood of the artwork, which would have been difficult to develop if the man stood of looked around his surroundings. The torso is hunched but contributes to the sense of power that is present.
The Thinker is one of Rodin’s work that showcases his brilliance in sculpture molding. The statue was nothing like Greek sculptures made before that depict beauty, harmony, elegance, prowess, and perfection. Distinctively, the sculpture has rough surfaces, realistic, flawed, illustrating the image of a human being (Takano & Sands 117). It’s no surprise that people nicknamed it the Thinker for the monument contemplates a man in deep thought. Most believe that the sculptor symbolizes the power of thinking and reflection. Therefore, agreeing with Rodin’s argument that thinking is a robust process that requires not only the brain but every part of the body.
The sculpture evokes emotion, mode, and tone. The contemplative expression offers the sculpture a calm feeling. However, the statue was not created to depict relaxation. Instead, the Thinker invokes visuals of deep thought and intelligence. These feelings, mainly, are themes that are universal in application. One thing to comprehend about the Thinker was created as a small scripture. However, when the Thinker was produced as a separate sculpture, plaster was used for molding. Since the original presentation of the statue, bronze casts have been generated from the original.
Resources are fundamental when it comes to the creation of statues and sculptors. It is essential to note that many versions of the Thinker have been made and cast all over the world, for instance, Tokyo, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Cleveland, and San Francisco. For example, Rodin placed a replica of the sculpture on his wife’s tomb at Meudon in 1917 (Le 4). However, the original version of the Thinker was created using government funds. The sculptor was created when there was political instability in France. Rodin intended to develop a cultural symbol to recognize French literary and artistic men and women.
For many years, the sculptor has captivated audiences, and I believe people will continue to visit Paris to see and learn about Rodin’s sculpture, the Thinker. Every time people see the statue, the world is reminded of the many achievements our forefathers have accomplished from creativity. The magnificence of bronze sculptor will forever symbolize the power of thinking and reflection. Indeed, the sculpture has a hidden story behind it, and with this monument, Auguste Rodin will be remembered for his contributions to artistic works.
Work Cited
Corbett, Rachel. You must change your life: The story of Rainer Maria Rilke and Auguste Rodin. WW Norton & Company, 2016.
Le Normand-Romain. Sculpture: The adventure of modern sculpture in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Rizzoli, New York, 2016.
Takano, S., and D. R. Sands. “Influence of body posture on defecation: a prospective study of “The Thinker” position.” Techniques in coloproctology 20.2 (2016): 117-121.