A bronze sculpture by French artist Camille Claudel, thought to symbolize her painful separation from fellow artist and lover Auguste Rodin, was auctioned for more than $3 million in Orleans, France, on Sunday.
The artwork, titled The Mature Age, was created by Claudel after breaking off her tumultuous relationship with Rodin, who was nearly two decades older than her.
The sculpture reflects the artist’s emotional turmoil and desire to establish herself outside of her role as Rodin’s assistant.
The piece, which exists in several versions, features an elderly man being dragged away by an older woman, while a young woman on her knees pleads with him.
Art historians have long interpreted this dynamic as a depiction of Claudel herself, devastated by the end of her romance with Rodin, who had a profound influence on her career and personal life.
The sculpture’s emotional intensity resonates with the themes of abandonment and loss, drawing a vivid parallel between Claudel’s personal grief and her struggles for recognition in a male-dominated art world.
Auctioneer Matthieu Semont, who made the unexpected discovery of the bronze in September, recounted how he found the piece while lifting a dust sheet in an abandoned flat near the Eiffel Tower. The flat had been unoccupied for approximately 15 years.
Semont did not disclose the identity of the previous owner, but the remarkable find added a new chapter to the history of Claudel’s legacy.
In his research, Semont found that, despite their break-up, Rodin was deeply moved when he first saw The Implorer, a model of The Mature Age, at the foundry.
According to Semont, it appeared that Rodin “never stopped loving her” and reportedly cried upon seeing the sculpture, which further underscores the emotional depth embedded in the work.
The bronze sculpture fetched 3.1 million euros ($3.2 million) at the auction, surpassing its estimated value of 1.5 to 2 million euros.
Its sale price reflects the increasing interest in Claudel’s work, as her reputation as an artist continues to grow, especially in feminist circles.
Other versions of The Mature Age are currently displayed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Camille Claudel Museum, located just outside the French capital.
Claudel, whose work was largely overshadowed by Rodin during her lifetime, has enjoyed a significant revival in recent years.
In 2017, a collection of her sculptures achieved record-breaking auction prices, including The Abandonment, which sold for nearly $1.4 million. The first version of her sweeping bronze The Waltz sold for $8 million in 2013, further cementing her place in art history.
Claudel’s life was marred by personal struggles, including her confinement to a psychiatric hospital by her family in 1913, after years of mental health challenges.
Despite the pleas of doctors and friends who insisted she was sane, Claudel remained in the asylum until her death in 1943 at the age of 78.
Her story of artistic brilliance and tragic abandonment has made her a feminist icon, particularly after the release of films portraying her life.
Isabelle Adjani’s performance in the 1989 biographical film Camille Claudel earned critical acclaim, and in 2013, Juliette Binoche portrayed Claudel in another film about her abandonment.
These portrayals have helped reclaim Claudel’s rightful place as a visionary artist in her own right, equal to the man with whom she once shared a deeply personal and professional bond.
Feminist critics continue to challenge Rodin’s treatment of Claudel, with many asserting that she was a key collaborator in some of his most celebrated works. The recent auction of The Mature Age serves as a powerful reminder of her enduring artistic legacy.
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