Age of Bronze 1870

Auguste Rodin's "Age of Bronze" (1870), a life-size sculpture of a nude male figure, is a prime example of the artist's innovative approach to realism. The sculpture, currently housed in the Hermitage Museum, depicts a young man in a pose of awakening, seemingly emerging from the depths of a slumbering past. The realism of the sculpture, which was initially accused of being a cast from a live model, challenged traditional academic ideals, making "Age of Bronze" a cornerstone of Rodin's early success.