Rodin in the United States

- Blurb -

A compelling examination of French sculptor Auguste Rodin from the perspective of his enthusiastic American audience This exhibition catalogue explores the American reception of French artist Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), from 1893, when his first work entered a US museum, to the present. Its trajectory reaches from the collecting frenzy of the early twentieth century-promoted by philanthropist Katherine Seney Simpson and performer Loie Fuller-to important museum acquisitions of the 1920s and 1930s. From there, it traverses the 1950s, when Rodin' s reputation flagged, through to the artist' s revival and recognition in the 1980s. Rodin' s promoters include a dynamic cast of characters, each of whom played a crucial role in cementing his status. The book traces this story through approximately 50 sculptures and 20 drawings that cover Rodin' s most iconic subjects and themes. They demonstrate his dexterity across media-his virtuosity in plaster, terracotta, bronze, and marble-as well as his expressive, colorful drawings, some of them relatively unknown, sparking new appreciation for his work and delight for readers.