Camille Claudel The Mature Age

- Musee d'Orsay

Camille Claudel was born in 1864. She modeled shapes as a young child and her identity was already established as a sculptress when her teacher handed her students over to Auguste Rodin in 1883. She was not yet 20, extraordinarily beautiful, with great energy, imagination and will. She began to work with Rodin, helping with his pieces. Her work showed “great sensibility and surprising maturity.” Their passionate connection is apparent in their work.

In 1886, their affair had progressed to her demand that she be his only pupil – and wife. She helped him in his growing reputation; she blended her art with his. "She was Rodin and Camille Claudel," an unbreakable liaison.

In 1893, when Rodin refused to end his relationship with Rose Beuret, Camille realized he would not marry her – She sculpted her powerful piece, “The Mature Age.” She portrayed herself as imploring, humiliated, on her knees.

She was not able to get grants to support her work and her reason collapsed in the aftermath of all of this. She was confined to an asylum where she remained the last thirty years of her life. Records indicate that her family kept her there despite many efforts to discharge her as not insane nor in need of confinement. Her mother never visited her there and her brother seldom.

Rodin went on to become internationally famous. Although he acknowledged Camille’s passion and gift, he did not help her continue her work. “I showed her where she could find gold, but the gold she finds is her own.”

Her story is told in film, “Camille Claudel", other biographies and her work shown at different times.

There is a powerful message in Camille’s story – especially for women – that we must sustain our own identity and be able to support ourselves economically – as we also engage in passionate relationships.