Portret van Antonin Proust

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

Auguste Rodin, celebrated for his groundbreaking sculptures that captured human emotion with unprecedented realism, also explored printmaking in the late nineteenth century. Created between 1884 and 1888, this drypoint portrait depicts Antonin Proust, a French journalist and statesman who was both a friend and supporter of the artist. The work belongs to a period when Rodin was expanding his practice beyond monumental bronze and marble, using intimate graphic media to convey personality and presence. Drypoint, an intaglio technique in which the artist scratches directly into a metal plate, produces velvety, richly textured lines prized for their expressive quality. At just 148 by 240 millimeters, the modest scale encourages close viewing, inviting the viewer to appreciate the subtle interplay of line and tone that reveals Proust’s dignified features. Such prints offered Rodin a way to reach wider audiences while experimenting with the same vitality found in his three-dimensional work. The presence of collector’s mark Lugt 2228 further attests to the print’s journey through distinguished collections, underscoring its enduring appeal among connoisseurs of Rodin’s graphic oeuvre.

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...