Camille Claudel

French, 1864 – 1943. Camille Rosalie Claudel was a sculptor famous for her marble and bronze sculptures. Camille Claudel's figurines featured a rugged sensual style which often connected with her love affair with Auguste Rodin. The sculptor was more famous as Rodin's muse rather than her splendid sculptures. Claudel was born in Fère-en-Tardenois in France on December 8, 1864. Claudel started sculpting at the age of 12 and made sculptures of human forms using local clay. Claudel's mother did not support her artistic skills. However, Claudel's father encouraged her skills and introduced her to famous sculptor Alfred Boucher who became Claudel's mentor.

Camille Claudel's artworks during the initial years include busts and portraits of the members of her family, including one like Paul Claudel Aged 13 (1881). She studied sculpture at the Académie Colarossi under the tutorage of Alfred Boucher. The artist got acquainted with Rodin through Alfred Boucher and started working with him as an assistant and later as a collaborator. Her relationship did not last long with Rodin, which led to her depression. The artist, however, moved away from Rodin and created her sculptures focusing on daily life and women.

One of Camille Claudel's famous sculptures is La Valse (The Waltz), an 1889- 1905 sculpture. La Valse (The Waltz) features an embracing couple dancing together. It also captures the fluid motion of both the characters. The sculptor died in Montdevergues in France on October 19, 1943. Today, Camille Claudel's artworks are on display in museums like the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, among others. Camille Claudel's famous sculptures on sale often come up at solo auctions. Collectors can also find Camille Claudel's famous Sculptures at online auction on leading auction platforms.