Skæbnen, kaldet La Fortune 1880

Auguste Rodin made this ink wash drawing called "Skæbnen, kaldet La Fortune" – Fate, also called Fortune. The use of ink wash is notable here, allowing Rodin to build up tone and volume, creating a sense of three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional surface. The drawing likely started with light pencil sketches to map out the figures, followed by layers of diluted ink applied with a brush. This process allowed for subtle gradations of light and shadow, which Rodin expertly used to define the forms and evoke a sense of movement. The blurred effect of the medium gives the artwork a raw, unfinished aesthetic and a sense of dynamism. While Rodin is best known for his sculptures, this drawing illustrates the way he thought in three dimensions, and how deeply he understood the human body, a knowledge he acquired through painstaking observation and modeling in clay. It shows that whether working on paper or in bronze, he was always concerned with capturing the essence of life in motion.