Old Woman Standing with Folded Arms

Auguste Rodin

modeled ca. 1885, cast before 1912 · Cast plaster · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

A gift from Rodin to The Met in 1912, this plaster preserves the sculptor’s sensitive modeling of an aged woman’s body. The sobering realism of the figure recalls The Old Courtesan, a composition for The Gates of Hell sculpted after the same model, and evokes Rodin’s attitude that "what is commonly called ugliness in nature can in art become full of beauty."

Artist

Auguste Rodin

Date

modeled ca. 1885, cast before 1912

Medium

Cast plaster

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Auguste Rodin, 1912