Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) has long been hailed as the father of modern sculpture. This module will critically reconsider this convention, by interrogating the ways in which his practice and legacy have been shaped by critics, academics and curators. We will examine the key innovations associated with his work – including assemblage, the fragment, his modelling of the human figure, the ‘hand’ of the artist, and his use of photography. We will also study areas of his practice marginalised by the scholarship – notably his engagement with the decorative arts, his collaborative projects and portrait busts. By reconsidering this wider context, the module challenges the selective study of his work and the focus on the ‘genius’ artist, offering a more comprehensive approach to sculpture and its histories.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Demonstrate a detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the module’s taught content;
Describe relationships between relevant artworks and the cultural and social environment of the period covered by the module;
Identify, analyse and compare relevant artworks produced during the period covered by the module;
Comment on theoretical and other matters embodied in primary or other sources relating to the period covered by the module.
Assessment
37032-01 : 4,000 word Essay (1005) : Coursework (100%)