The Veil of Isis #5

Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel, always in the shadow of his mentor and lover Auguste Rodin. However, his talent was equivalent, And there are even those who claim that the sculptor helped shape some of the great works of the master (not to say that he stole them directly). What is certain is that if Claudel had been born a man, her recognition would have been different.

Camille Claudel was born a sculptor. From a very young age she enjoyed molding clay and her ability to reflect in that material the faces of her loved ones was already evident. A game that lasted until she grew up and that did not please her family at all, who saw her as a future wife, mother and "home artist".

At the age of 17, she was admitted to a Academy of Art Parisian and suddenly, Auguste Rodin became aware of the young woman's artistic talent, entering his life like an earthquake. From student of the already legendary sculptor, she would become his muse, and from there his lover.

The talent of Claudel was evident, but the envy and machismo of the time made her the object of unfortunate comments that questioned her artistic ability. The shadow of Rodin was too long and the artist began to have a love/hate relationship. She loved the master with all her soul, but she also hated him for receiving all the public recognition, constant commissions and praise. She was his simple pupil and lover.

Claudel finally abandoned Rodin (who had no intention of leaving his wife) and would end up going crazy... Or so they say. Recent biographies speak of manipulations and mistreatment by her entourage, and she was even forced to enter a sordid psychiatric hospital with the official diagnosis of "mental illness".persecutory anxiety and delusions of grandeur".

In all, 30 years of unjust confinement in a sordid place where he was denied visitors and where he died without doing a single work.

Even so, the sculptor left a work of art of overwhelming talent. His naturalism had traits of impressionism and symbolism, always looking for emotion which translates into a exquisite drama thanks to a perfect mastery of the techniques and to its enormous sensitivity.

Thanks to it, it was demonstrated that it is possible to sculpt emotion.