Positive and negative molds of a relief after Rodin's Thinker 1895 - 1905

This is a plaster relief made by Victor Peter after Rodin’s celebrated sculpture, The Thinker. It captures the iconic pose, a figure of deep contemplation, his chin resting heavily on his hand. Created in France, at a time when Rodin's influence was at its peak, this relief speaks volumes about the institutionalization of art. Rodin's original was meant to represent intellectual and poetic activity, and it quickly became a symbol of high culture and philosophical thought. Peter’s version transforms this icon into a reproducible object, moving it further away from Rodin's original intent. It reflects the growing market for art reproductions and the increasing accessibility of art to a broader audience. To fully understand this relief, we might delve into the archives of the foundries and workshops that mass-produced such items, tracing their distribution and reception. This artwork reminds us that the meaning of art is never fixed, but always shaped by the social and institutional contexts in which it circulates.