Rodin–The Thinker, Paris

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Artist Edward Steichen (American, born Luxembourg, 1879–1973)American, born Luxembourg, 1879–1973

CultureAmerican

Titles

Rodin–The Thinker, Paris

Date1902, printed 1904

PlaceParis, France

MediumDirect carbon print

DimensionsImage: 10 1/8 × 12 11/16 in. (25.7 × 32.2 cm)
Sheet: 10 1/8 × 12 5/8 in. (25.7 × 32.1 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Harry Reasoner in honor of Joe Jamail and Harry H. Cullen at "One Great Night in November, 1998"

Object number98.591

Non exposé

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Department

Photography

Object Type

PHOTOGRAPHS

DescriptionWhen twenty-one-year-old Edward Steichen set off for Paris from Milwaukee, it was as much to visit the Rodin Pavilion just outside the 1900 Universal Exposition and to pay homage to the man widely considered the greatest artist of his time as it was to find his own fortunes as an artist. Only after a year of visiting the revered sculptor’s studio each Saturday did Steichen dare to photograph him. In the studio crowded with marble blocks and works in clay, plaster, and bronze, Steichen had to make two exposures—one of Rodin and his monument to Victor Hugo and another of The Thinker—joining them later into a single picture. In the composite picture, Rodin seems to contemplate The Thinker as his alter ego, while the luminous figure of Victor Hugo suggests poetic inspiration as the source of his creativity. Steichen’s respectful persistence, and above all the power of the resulting picture, inspired mutual admiration and a genuine friendship that lasted until Rodin’s death in 1917.
Provenance[Andrew Smith Gallery, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico]; purchased by MFAH, 1998.
Exhibition History"The Art of Photography: 150 Years, 1839–1989," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 11–April 30, 1989; Australian National Gallery, Canberra, June 17–August 27, 1989; Royal Academy of Arts, London, September 23–December 23, 1989.

"A Love Affair with Pictures: 25 Years of Collecting Photographs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 14–December 30, 2001.

"Celebrating America: Masterworks from Texas Collections," Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, September 14–November 17, 2002.

Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Inscription: The photogravure is inscribed in pencil, verso, lower center: "PF20333". There is a printed label on the backboard: "The Art of Photography: 150 Years, 1839-1989 / Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: 11 Feb - 30 Apr 1989 / Australian National Gallery: 17 June - 27 Aug 1989 / Royal Academy of Arts: 23 Sept - 23 Dec 1989 / cat #:163 AOP MFAH REG #165 / Edward (Edouard Jean) Steichen / American, born Luxembourg, 1879-1973 / Rodin, "Le Penseur", Paris / 1902 / Photogravure, printed 1904 / Mary Steichen Calderone, M.D." There is a label on the backboard in ink"Edward J. Steichen / Rodin Le Penseur 1902 / print 1904".

The photogravure is printed in the recto, lower left corner: "STEICHEN / MDCCCCII"

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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