Half Length Figure of a Woman (The Martyr)

Description

Half Length Figure of a Woman is a compelling example of Rodin’s experimentation with the human figure. In 1910 Rodin photographed this sculpture, but he had removed its head, neck, and shoulder. He had also placed a large wedge underneath the figure’s thighs, effectively arching the torso backward. Although Rodin eventually reattached a head to the sculpture, it is clear that he used this work to explore the dynamics of the human body almost to the point of abstraction.