Despair

Early closure on the 24th and 31st December 2024 at 5.30pm, with last admission to the museum at 4.45pm. The Sculpture Garden closes at 5pm. On the 25th December and 1st January, the museum will be closed all day.

Vue de l'oeuvre

- Diaporama

    Despair

    Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)

    Rodin originally modeled Despair as part of his vast repertory of figures for The Gates of Hell. Its positive critical reception encouraged him to work on other versions which he showed at various exhibitions, keeping the same title despite the highly unusual image it presented. Although most depictions of sorrow featured a figure hiding its face in its hands or lying prostrate, Rodin’s sculpture represents a woman seated on a rock with one knee bent as she strains to stretch the other leg, her hands clasped around her foot.
    The figure was particularly admired for its streamlined design and compact composition. It was probably a source of inspiration for Aristide Maillol’s The Mediterranean (1905), perceived as a manifesto for a return to classicism. From that time on, the bronze figure by Rodin was often reproduced.


    The artwork in the museum

    Permanent collections - Ground floor, room 5

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    Discover the themes related to the work

    Date of conception :

    Vers 1903-1904

    Completion date :

    About 1903-1904

    Dimensions :

    H. 35,5 ; W. 36,5 ; D. 30 cm

    Materials :

    Bronze and stone, sand-cast by Alexis Rudier, 1929

    Inventory number :

    S.1129

    Credits :

    © Photographic agency of musée Rodin - Jérome Manoukian

    Additional information

    Iconographie

    • Despair (zip, 771.2 ko)