Iris, messenger of the gods

Designed in 1891, the figure of Iris was completed with a pair of wings and arranged in a swooping movement in the second project for the Monument to Victor Hugo, in 1897 . In 1894, however, she was enlarged, turned the right way up, placed in a vertical position and cast in bronze by Alexis Rudier, before being photographed in front of The Gates of Hell , in 1896-98.

 In Greek mythology, Iris acted as a link between the world of men and the gods. Entitled Iris, Messenger of the Gods, or Flying Figure, or even Eternal Tunnel, the work was both Symbolistic and mythological, yet also assumed a powerful formal presence. The position chosen by Rodin, which naturally recalls The Origin of the World (1866) by Gustave Courbet (1819-77), aroused not only indignation but also fascination.Weightless, energetic, the work suggests the movements of the French cancan and a gymnast stretching her limbs. The position, as well as the absence of the head and one of the arms, centre attention on the female genitalia.

The ARTwork in the museUm

Permanent collections – first floor, Room 15

We cannot guarantee the presence of all our artworks; some may be out on loan.