Statuette of a Woman

possibly early 20th century

Auguste Rodin

Associated Names
Auguste Rodin

Sculptor, French, 1840 - 1917

The sculpture depicts a standing female figure with her arms behind her back and head slightly tilted downwards. The figure is leaning against a textured form, possibly representing drapery or a natural object. It is crafted from light brown or terracotta-colored material, likely clay, giving it an earthy appearance. The sculpture has a rough texture with visible marks and surface variations, suggesting a hand-modeled quality. The base is dark and polished, contrasting with the natural color of the sculpture. The proportions of the figure are naturalistic, emphasizing form and posture, conveying a sense of timelessness and human presence.

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On View

West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G1

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    terracotta

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mrs. John W. Simpson

  • Dimensions

    overall: 32.4 x 10.2 x 11.6 cm (12 3/4 x 4 x 4 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1942.5.6

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Acquired possibly 1905 from the artist by Mr. and Mrs. John W. Simpson, New York;[1] gift 1942 to NGA.
[1] This figure, like NGA 1942.5.4,5,7) may have been in the group of terracottas Mrs. Simpson refers to in her letter to Rodin of 13 October 1905 (letter in Musée Rodin Archives, Paris).

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1946

  • Rodin: Sculpture, Drawings, Prints, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1946, no. 11.

1965

  • Wax Sculptures by Degas, Sculptures and Drawings by Rodin, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1965-1966, no cat.

Bibliography

1965

  • Summary Catalogue of European Paintings and Sculpture. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965: 167.

1968

  • National Gallery of Art. European Paintings and Sculpture, Illustrations. Washington, 1968: 149, repro.

1994

  • Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: 208, repro.

2000

  • Butler, Ruth, and Suzanne Glover Lindsay, with Alison Luchs, Douglas Lewis, Cynthia J. Mills, and Jeffrey Weidman. European Sculpture of the Nineteenth Century. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 2000: 368, color repro. 369.

Inscriptions

behind left leg: Rodin

Wikidata ID

Q63809242

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