Musee Rodin Paris

Auguste Rodin was a rare artist – rare because of his immense talent and originality, but also because of his success within his own lifetime. Often called the father of modern sculpture, he was a prolific craftsman and creator. In addition to his own work, he taught and nurtured the talent of a number of artists who achieved world renoun in the own right; Brancusi, Bourdelle and Camille Claudel among them. He befriended Rilke, lived in a home whose architectural beauty remains near unparalleled and is the first person I’d put on my guestlist if I could host a dinner party with absolutely anyone, living or dead.

Now that I’ve confessed that, it will probably come as no surprise that the Musee Rodin is among my favourite Paris museums. In our younger years, when we lived in the capital with very little money to spare, the entry fee to the garden was only a euro. On summer evenings when the apartment was stifling, that garden was my refuge. I’d take a book and pay the small fee to enjoy the sunset among the statues and blooming rosebushes. It wasn’t much cooler than home, but it as infinitely lovelier. The entry fee always felt like a bargain.

No matter how many times we visit the Musee Rodin – and I lost count of the number of times I’ve visited sometime in 2017 – I never tire of it. Exhibitions change periodically, but mostly, the works of art on display remain the same. The manner in which they are displayed does, too. Rodin willed his home, and his work, to the French state. That home is now the museum and the largest portion of his work remains there permanently. For me, it doesn’t matter. Time passes between each of my visits, which means I come with a slightly different perspective each time. And with a new perspective, I see Rodin’s work differently. I notice details that haven’t stood out before. Inevitably, I walk away with a renewed appreciation for the artist I already love.

There is comfort in the familiarity of Rodin’s work for me, too, of course. I know the steps of the museum visit by heart. In every room, I greet old friends – by which, of course, I mean sculptures. Those reunions never fail to bring back happy memories.

“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.”
– August Rodin

Like Picasso, Rodin is one of those artists whose name is well known all over the world, among people from all walks of life. Chances are that you’ve seen a Rodin somewhere, even if you didn’t recognise the work of art was his creation. But seeing a piece of art reproduced in print is different from experiencing a work of art in person. And engaging with a single work of art from an artist is simply not comparable to visiting a museum dedicated to their creations.

At the Musee Rodin, you walk the same halls that monsieur Rodin himself walked. You see his art in the place he created it, albeit perhaps not displayed the way he himself arranged it – artist’s ateliers and museums generally have little in common apart from the fact that they both house artworks. That experience isn’t available anywhere else in the world. It’s the closest anyone living will get to having Rodin at a dinner party. To me, that makes it priceless.

My pilgrimages to the Musee Rodin will continue for the rest of my life. My love of art, and of Rodin’s work in particular, mean I will always feel a tug at the thought of the familiar entry gate. The museum won’t inspire the same sensation in everyone. But if you have the privilege of visiting Paris even once, a visit to this beautiful place should be high on your list of things to do while you’re there. It does not – and in fact, could not – disappoint.

Musee Rodin
77, rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
01 44 18 61 10