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Head of Sorrow, Small Model (Tête de la Douleur, petit modèle)

European Art

Rodin sculpted a head as part of the original clay figure for this work, but it accidently broke off, presumably due to its weight and position leaning over the body. It is a testament to his belief that a work of art need not include the entire human form to realize its full expressive potential that he decided to cast the work in its headless state.

Rodin often encouraged his models to adopt unusual poses such as this one, as opposed to those from the stale repertoire of academic art.
MEDIUM Bronze
  • Place Made: France
  • DATES ca. 1882; cast 1956
    DIMENSIONS 3 1/8 × 2 3/4 × 3 1/8 in., 0.5 lb. (7.9 × 7 × 7.9 cm)  (show scale)
    MARKINGS Neck, back edge: "© by Musée Rodin 1956"
    SIGNATURE Neck, proper left: "A. Rodin'
    COLLECTIONS European Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 84.75.10
    CREDIT LINE Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Auguste Rodin (French, 1840-1917). Head of Sorrow, Small Model (Tête de la Douleur, petit modèle), ca. 1882; cast 1956. Bronze, 3 1/8 × 2 3/4 × 3 1/8 in., 0.5 lb. (7.9 × 7 × 7.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, 84.75.10. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 84.75.10_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 84.75.10_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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