Obviously well-known for his skills as a sculptor, Rodin often started a project by drawing it and cutting the drawing out. This new exhibition at the Rodin Museum near our hotels shows nearly 250 drawings, 90 of which are cut-outs, all preparatory works that Rodin considered essential to his creative process.

Not everyone know about Rodin’s methodicial way of creating a new sculpture, which often started with drawing the design before cutting it out.

Between 1880 and 1889 he drew a series of masks (as part of a commissioned work), then from 1900-1908 made over a hundred drawings of nudes. For Rodin, it was important to visualise a new work for various angles before starting on it.

Taken from the museum’s collection of around 7,500 drawings, the selection on show documents this very particular way of preparing a sculpture, and includes a very recent acquisition – étude pour le Baiser – as well as a number of erotic drawings featuring both men and women.

Linked to the exhibition, there’s a free study day on 25th January 2019, a conference (in French) entitled ‘Rodin and cut-outs’ on 10th Decembrer, and a catalogue of the exhibition has just been published (192 pages, 326 illustrations, 35€ here at amazon.fr).

The exhibition Rodin – dessiner, découper (Rodin – cut-outs) is at the Rodin Museum (here) from 6th November 2018 – 24th February 2019

Open every day except Mondays from 10am-5.45pm. Last ticket 30 minutes before closing

Admission: 10€ / 7€

Admission just to the garden: 4€ / €2

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Édition limitée – Enveloppe de 3 dessins numéro 13 Le musée Rodin édite chaque année une série exceptionnelle de trois reproductions de dessins inédits, en édition limitée à 300 exemplaires. Ici : la pochette numéro 13. En savoir plus ☛ boutique.musee-rodin.fr Dessins imprimés en France, sur papier Arches 250 gr., chaque planche est numérotée au dos et tamponnée à sec. #Boutique #Shop #limitededition #editionlimitee #museerodin #museerodinparis

A post shared by Musée Rodin (@museerodinparis) on Oct 12, 2018 at 8:28am PDT