What is "The Thinker" actually thinking about? - Noah Charney
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Contrary to popular belief, "The Thinker" sculpture isn’t just a universal symbol of eternal contemplation. French sculptor Auguste Rodin intended it to represent a specific person— and fit into a much larger piece featuring the fiery pits of Hell. So, who was "The Thinker," and what was he actually thinking? Noah Charney digs into the secrets of this infamous work of art.
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Additional Resources for you to Explore
Explore Rodin’s world and ideas more deeply through these resources, which expand on the history, meaning, and making of his most famous works.
Auguste Rodin and his artistic breakthrough
The Musée Rodin in Paris houses the world’s largest collection of Rodin’s works and offers excellent background essays on his life, methods, and influence.
Rodin’s The Thinker in context
Many people encounter The Thinker as a standalone sculpture, but it was originally part of a much larger project. The Musée Rodin explains how the figure evolved and why its meaning changed over time.
The Gates of Hell and Dante’s Inferno
Rodin’s monumental doorway was inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, the first part of The Divine Comedy. This short overview introduces Dante’s journey through Hell and the characters Rodin depicted.
For a visual guide to The Gates of Hell and its many figures, including Paolo and Francesca and Count Ugolino, see this illustrated overview.
How bronze sculptures are made: the lost-wax process
Rodin relied on an ancient casting technique known as the lost-wax method. This short explainer shows how sculptors transform clay models into bronze works.
Rodin and the rise of modern sculpture
Rodin is often described as a bridge between classical tradition and modern art. This essay explores how his expressive surfaces influenced later sculptors.
Further reading
Rainer Maria Rilke's "Rodin": A poetic and philosophical portrait written by one of Rodin’s contemporaries, offering insight into how the sculptor was seen in his own time.
Auguste Rodin and his artistic breakthrough
The Musée Rodin in Paris houses the world’s largest collection of Rodin’s works and offers excellent background essays on his life, methods, and influence.
Rodin’s The Thinker in context
Many people encounter The Thinker as a standalone sculpture, but it was originally part of a much larger project. The Musée Rodin explains how the figure evolved and why its meaning changed over time.
The Gates of Hell and Dante’s Inferno
Rodin’s monumental doorway was inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, the first part of The Divine Comedy. This short overview introduces Dante’s journey through Hell and the characters Rodin depicted.
For a visual guide to The Gates of Hell and its many figures, including Paolo and Francesca and Count Ugolino, see this illustrated overview.
How bronze sculptures are made: the lost-wax process
Rodin relied on an ancient casting technique known as the lost-wax method. This short explainer shows how sculptors transform clay models into bronze works.
Rodin and the rise of modern sculpture
Rodin is often described as a bridge between classical tradition and modern art. This essay explores how his expressive surfaces influenced later sculptors.
Further reading
Rainer Maria Rilke's "Rodin": A poetic and philosophical portrait written by one of Rodin’s contemporaries, offering insight into how the sculptor was seen in his own time.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator
- Noah Charney
- Director
- Avi Ofer
- Narrator
- Jack Cutmore-Scott
- Composer
- Stephen LaRosa, Wonder Boy Audio
- Sound Designer
- Stephen LaRosa, Wonder Boy Audio
