Rodin

April 15, 2020
Do you know the sculpture of the seated, naked man, hunched over, resting his chin on his hand? The Thinker? This graphic biography tells the story of its creator's artistic life. French sculptor Rodin was born in the late nineteenth century, and his passion for art took him from poverty and obscurity to riches and international notoriety. The connective tissue of this work is constructed around the three women in his life who supported his art, inspired his oeuvre, and positioned him for the effective marketing and promotion of what he produced. Rodin's phenomenal successes were hard won over time, and his most intimate relationships were direct casualties of his art. Alessandra's art, full color yet muted and heavy with earth tones, lends a credible air to the early twentieth-century Paris being depicted. Generous notes at the end of the short tome further contextualize Rodin's encounters as well as the highlights and pitfalls of his life. Recommended for art history buffs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)