Camille Claudel in 5 Sculptures

1. Paul Claudel Aged 16, 1884

Camille Claudel was born into a middle-class family. Her father, a civil official, loved his daughter dearly. Her mother, on the other hand, devoted her life to her marriage and family and did not favor Camille, instead preferring her brother, Paul, and sister, Louise.

As a child, Camille discovered an interest in sculpture, and her father supported her as she pursued becoming an artist. The family moved to Paris, where Camille had the opportunity to delve deeper into her studies and meet Alfred Boucher, who recognized her talent. In 1883, Camille created a sculptural portrait of her brother, which was praised by art critic Mathias Morhardt for its excellent quality. Paul is portrayed wearing an antique toga, referring to the antique Roman sculptural portraits.

2. Bust of Auguste Rodin, 1888

It is impossible to ignore the influence of Auguste Rodin on Camille’s life and work. After meeting Alfred Boucher, she became a student and assistant to Auguste Rodin, and with time, she became his muse. Rodin recognized not only a talented woman in Camille but also a kindred spirit with whom he could share his ideas. They shared a passion not only for sculpture but also for each other.

In honor of her teacher and lover, Camille created a sculptural portrait of Rodin. This tenderly sculpted work shows not only the power of Rodin’s character and his penetrating gaze but also the love that Camille had for him.

Unfortunately, this love was not meant to be easy or truly joyful. Their relationship lasted more than ten years, but they never lived under the same roof, as Rodin had another lover and a child with her. Claudel experienced rejection, abortion, and a painful break-up, which affected her mental health and led to paranoia.

3. The Waltz, 1893

However, Camille Claudel continued to create her own sculptures—even as a woman in the 19th century—even as the lover of the more famous Rodin. One of her most acclaimed works is The Waltz, perhaps inspired by her acquaintance and friendship with the French composer Claude Debussy. The sculpture was made in several versions, including plaster and bronze.

She presented one version of The Waltz to the composer, who kept it with him throughout his life. The Waltz is a dance representing love and tenderness between a man and a woman. When looking at this work, one can feel the same emotions. Although the piece is relatively small in size, it conveys a strong momentum and passion.

Claudel was a masterful artist with a great sense of anatomical proportions. The dancers in the sculpture are light and graceful in their movements. Thanks to the diagonal composition, they appear to be spinning, embracing each other in an endless dance.

4. Vertumnus and Pomona, 1905

This sculpture was created in several versions using different materials and given different names. Claudel wanted to capture the essence of love in her work. The first version, created in plaster, won Claudel an honorable mention at the Salon des Artistes Français. This version was inspired by the Indian story of Shakuntala, written by the poet Kalidasa, which tells the story of a husband who returns to his wife after a magical spell. Claudel captured the moment of reunion between the loving couple.

Later, the sculptural group was transformed into marble and renamed Vertumnus and Pomona, based on Greek mythology. Vertumnus, the god of transformation, who had long sought the love of Pomona, the goddess of fruit, finally conquered her heart. In this interpretation, the sculpture depicts the moment when Vertumnus falls at Pomona’s feet and expresses his feelings for her.

Another version was cast in bronze with a different name—Abandon. How can this name be interpreted? Obviously, the archetypes of Indian and Greek mythology have allowed the artist to portray personal history and pain. Thus, these sculptures reflect Camille Claudel’s feelings and experiences she underwent in her relationship with Rodin.

5. The Wave, 1903

Camille Claudel mastered not only working with plaster, marble, and bronze but also onyx. Her work The Wave was created using this material. It does not resemble the Waltz or Vertumnus and Pomona technically. Nevertheless, the poetic language of her art is also present in this piece.

On one hand, its form seems to be influenced by Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa. On the other hand, the idea behind this sculpture can be interpreted as fate or destiny, against which people have no control. Claudel portrays three women overwhelmed by a powerful and strong element represented by the wave. Furthermore, the wave could be compared to a powerful feeling of love that floods and even destroys a woman.

For a long time, Camille Claudel’s work was largely forgotten, and her name was only associated with Rodin as his muse and lover. However, there has been a renewed interest in her work in recent years, with films, exhibitions, and books being dedicated to her. A museum in her name has been opened in Nogent-sur-Seine in France, and Camille Claudel’s sculptures are now widely recognized for their beauty and emotional depth. Through her art, Claudel was able to express her feelings and experiences as if the stone itself seemed to speak.