Tragic art treasure: Camille Claudel's The ripe old age revealed!

Tragic art treasure: Camille Claudel's The ripe old age revealed!

A surprising discovery shocked the art world: Camille Claudel's sculpture “The Mature Age” was auctioned for an astonishing 3.1 million euros. This precious group of figures, depicting a young Claudel desperately trying to hold back her older lover Auguste Rodin, was found quite by chance in an apartment near the Eiffel Tower that had been vacant for 15 years. Auction house boss Matthieu Semont was enthusiastic about the high level of interest in this extraordinary work of art, which dates back to the 1890s, when Claudel had a close relationship with Rodin, the most famous sculptor of her time. Loud Small newspaper Similar versions of this iconic sculpture are on display at the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée Camille Claudel in Paris.

Insights into the history of its creation

The sculpture, created between 1893 and 1899, is Claudel's last significant work, which was shaped throughout her life by her turbulent relationship with Rodin. Art & History report that, similar to her work "L'Implorante", in "The Mature Age" she impressively expresses the emotional state of a woman who feels both love and despair. While Claudel passionately fought for recognition during her creative period, she spent the last part of her life in a psychiatric clinic, the fate that she herself once discussed in her works of art. Pausing between genius and madness, the significance of her sculptures is reinforced by their complex relationship with Rodin.

The recently discovered sculpture sheds new light on Claudel's life's work and opens up discourses about the human pursuit of love and acceptance in the midst of loss and illness. The final bronze sculpture, of which several casts exist, shows a uniquely emotional snapshot of the relationship between the two artists that has stood the test of time. The first plaster version can still be found in the Musée Rodin today, while the bronze solution sold at auction is taking center stage before a new audience, as a symbol of Claudel's tragic but inspiring life's work.

The auction not only achieved a record price, but also reignited the fascinating narrative behind the art of Camille Claudel, who continues to leave a significant legacy in the world of fine art, such as Wikipedia highlights.