PARIS, FRANCE.-Musée Marmotan Monet presents today Camille Claudel, on view through January 31, 2006. Camille Claudel (1864-1943) and Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) met in Paris in 1882. Seventeen-year-old Camille dreamed of becoming a sculptor; forty-one-year-old Rodin was already on the threshold of a brilliant career. Their bliss was short-lived-an intense love affair fuelled by their shared passion for sculpture. Camille witnessed the creation of Rodin's masterpieces firsthand, and at his side, soon sculpted outstanding, expressive, powerful works of her own.
Then, the relationship became stormy. While Rodin introduced a new vision of sculpture in France and the world over, Camille valiantly struggled to free herself from her teacher's oppressive legacy and have her production recognized in its own right. Unable to reconcile their differences, their love dwindled. Rodin continued his rise to glory and Camille turned inward, grappling with psychological problems, which worsened and finally led to her being institutionalized.
