Gwen John (Study for a Muse)
modeled probably ca. 1904
Medium
Cast plaster
Dimensions
Height: 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Auguste Rodin, 1912
Accession Number
12.12.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate cast plaster sculpture, *Gwen John (Study a Muse)*, captures poised features of the Welsh painter Gwen John, modeled by Auguste Rodin around 190. Standing just 4 inches tall, this intimate head study exemplifies Rodin's revolutionary approach to sculpture during his mature period. Breaking from rigid academic traditions, Rodin infused his works with impressionistic vitality—surfaces textured by his fingertips to convey emotion and movement, as seen in the subtle modeling of John's contemplative expression. Gwen John, who moved to Paris in 1904, became one of Rodin's most cherish...
About the Artist
Auguste Rodin · 1840–1917
François Auguste René Rodin (1840-1917) stands as the founder of modern sculpture, transforming the art form from academic tradition into expressive modernism. Born into a working-class Parisian family, Rodin faced early rejection, failing three times to gain admission to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. This setback forced him to work as a craftsman for nearly two decades, though his 1875 tr...