Study of a hand
original model late 19th—early 20th century
Medium
Cast plaster
Dimensions
6 3/8 × 2 1/2 × 3 3/4 in. (16.2 × 6.4 × 9.5 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
12.12.10
Tags
Art Historical Context
Auguste Rodin's *Study of a Hand* (original model late 19thearly 20th century captures the masterful realism that defined the French sculptor's revolutionary approach to the human form. A pioneer of modern sculpture, Rodin drew from Impressionist influences, emphasizing texture, light, and movement over classical idealism. This intimate cast plaster piece, measuring just 6 3/8 × 2 1/2 × 3 3/4 inches, exemplifies his practice of creating detailed studies of isolated body parts—especially hands—to explore anatomy, gesture, and emotion with unprecedented vitality. Rodin produced numerous such st...
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...