Figure Facing Forward 

Auguste Rodin created this watercolor and graphite drawing, “Figure Facing Forward,” sometime during his career in France. The image, with its classical subject and medium, exemplifies the tensions between tradition and innovation in the art world of late 19th century France. Rodin was trained in the French academic tradition, but he challenged its conventions through his expressive modeling and unfinished surfaces. His work, while celebrated, was also often criticized for its perceived lack of polish. The image suggests a society in transition, caught between established norms and emerging modern sensibilities. Rodin’s nudes in particular, were a challenge to the traditional art establishment which placed a strong emphasis on idealised beauty and the representation of power. Rodin's work often embraced imperfection and the realities of the human form. To fully appreciate Rodin’s art, we have to examine these critical debates of his time. By consulting period reviews, exhibition catalogs, and biographical accounts, we gain insight into how Rodin challenged the institutions of art.