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Rodin Museum

The Left Hand

Modeled c. 1885; cast 1925
Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917) Cast by the founder Alexis Rudier, Paris (1874–1952)
Rodin explored the expressive power of hands almost obsessively, using them to convey an infinite variety of emotions—fury, anguish, fatigue—and as metaphors for creation. It is thought that he conceived The Left Hand as a study for The Burghers of Calais (Philadelphia Museum of Art, F1929-7-129) but probably rejected the hands as being too fiercely animated.

Object Details

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Rodin Museum