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The Thinker
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Rodin originally conceived <em>The Thinker</em> as a depiction of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) sitting in the upper center of a monumental sculptural doorway titled <em>The Gates of Hell</em> (below). Inspired by Dante’s description of a journey through the underworld in his epic poem <em>The Divine Comedy</em> (about 1320), <em>The Thinker</em> contemplates mankind’s fate while gazing at a host of damned figures writhing in anguish below. Stripped of clothing, the figure’s rippling muscles convey an inner, animating life force symbolic of mental activity or creative effort. The figure leans forward, as if ready to spring from his perch, yet seems simultaneously caught in the inaction of deep thought. Rodin produced independent versions of <em>The Thinker</em>, first in this original size and later in a monumental version.
| Artist / Maker | Auguste Rodin |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1880 |
| Culture / Origin | France, 19th century |
| Medium | bronze |
| Dimensions | Overall: 70.8 x 34.9 x 59.7 cm (27 7/8 x 13 3/4 x 23 1/2 in.) |
| Department | Modern European Painting and Sculpture |
| Type | Sculpture |
About the Artist
BiographyAuguste Rodin (1840–1917) — French sculptor (1840–1917).Auguste Rodin worked as sculptor, graphic artist, draftsperson, photographer and painter and is associated with France. Their documented life spans the years 1840 to 1917, born in Paris, died in Meudon. Their work is linked to modern art, Symbolism.Disciplinessculptor, graphic artist, draftsperson, photographer, painterBorn1840, ParisDied1917, MeudonNationalityFranceMovementmodern art, SymbolismSources: Wikidata · Wikipedia Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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