Young woman kneeling 1875 - 1915

Auguste Rodin created this plaster sculpture, "Young Woman Kneeling," sometime during his career, leaving its exact date open to speculation. Rodin lived and worked during a period of significant social change, particularly concerning women's roles. This sculpture captures a figure in a moment of introspection, her head bowed and posture suggesting vulnerability. It invites questions about the female experience in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The kneeling position has varied connotations, from religious submission to profound contemplation. Here, the woman's form isn't idealized, and Rodin captures the weight of her emotional or physical experience. "I choose a block of marble and chop off whatever I don't need," Rodin said, and in this piece, the rough texture of the plaster adds to the sense of immediacy and rawness. The work encourages a dialogue about the constraints and expectations placed on women, reflecting both historical and ongoing conversations about gender, identity, and the body.