Accession Number
1955/1.134

Title
La Jeune Mère (The Young Mother)

Artist(s)
Auguste Rodin

Artist Nationality
French (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1885

Medium & Support
bronze

Dimensions
15 1/8 in. x 13 7/16 in. x 9 1/2 in. ( 38.4 cm x 34.1 cm x 24.1 cm )

Credit Line
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Label copy
The Young Mother (Le Jeune Mère) is representative of Rodin’s exploration of the human form as a vehicle of expression, to be plied and twisted, stretched and compressed. Dynamic, sensual compositions consisting of intensely expressive forms either physically locked in mutual embrace, such asThe Kiss (Le Baiser), or simply counterposed, like The Young Mother, best demonstrate his interest in challenging eighteenth and nineteenth century sculptural conventions of static form or movement. In The Young Mother, the two figures are turning in opposite directions, forming a spiral-like form. The various degrees of finish, from the rough modeling of the base (Rodin’s name is signed on the back: “A. Rodin”) to the smooth contours of the nude figure, appeal to the sense of touch and affirm the strength of modelling.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
nudes
seated
stone (worked rock)