Rodin: The Man and His Art, with Leaves from His Note-book

A vivid portrait of Auguste Rodin emerges from this richly illustrated study, tracing the sculptor’s rise from modest Parisian beginnings to his status as the era’s preeminent master. The narrative follows his early struggles—failed attempts at the École des Beaux‑Arts, years as an anonymous assistant, and the gritty apprenticeship that forged his technique—while highlighting the pivotal accidents and choices that set his artistic path on course.

Beyond the biographical facts, the book delves into Rodin’s distinctive creative philosophy. It explains how his hands‑on experiments with light, movement and “cubic truth” transformed marble and clay into living forms, and it showcases his relentless sketchbooks, where quick lines capture the fleeting gestures of the human body. With photographs of his works and personal notes, listeners gain a clear sense of why Rodin’s sculptures pulse with vitality, and how his adventurous spirit reshaped the possibilities of modern art.