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The Arts Intel Report

Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel, The Age of Maturity, modeled in 1899 and cast in 1902.

Apr 2 – July 21, 2024
17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, USA

At the end of the 19th century, reviewing Camille Claudel’s sculpture The Age of Maturity, a critic wrote, “we can no longer call Mademoiselle Claudel a student of Rodin; she is a rival.” Due to a complicated and at one time romantic relationship with her mentor Auguste Rodin, as well as severe mental health issues that saw her confined in a psychiatric institution for 30 years, Claudel was productive as an artist for just a short time. She is not well known outside of France (only 10 of her pieces live in U.S. museums), but is respected by the French for her mastery of marble and bronze. “Claudel excelled at capturing the likeness of her subjects, depicting individuals at every state of life with powerful emotion and empathy,” says Anne-Lise Desmas, a senior curator at the Getty Museum. More than 50 of her sculptures make up this exhibition. —Jeanne Malle

Photo: © RMN-Grand Palais/Art Resource, NY