Rodin's `Balzac' as Symbol of Nineteenth-Century History and Art

Rodin's "Balzac" is shown as summary and symbol of all major nineteenth century styles, recapitulating Romanticism and Realism, and illustrating Impressionism while forging a symbolist aesthetic in sculpture of which it will remain the most comprehensive and successful example. The development of Rodin's conception of the monument is followed through by an examination of the close to 40 studies for the work extant with each study contributing its part to the final version. The figure of Balzac itself is shown to express not only Balzac's essential physical characteristics but the spirit of the "Comédie humaine" and the creative, visionary act of its author. The prophetic quality of the sculpture, finally, is suggested by showing how it foreshadows and in some ways already clearly illustrates such twentieth century styles as Expressionism, abstract art and Surrealism. (MLM)