The Thinker, a Philosophy And Human Existence Symbol Statue
Many people think that this statue is strange and different from other statues. The strange statue is named The Thinker (French : Le Penseur). Apparently the statue is the work of Auguste Rodin, a French sculpture artist. The statue is a symbol of human existence. Images of the Thinker statue are often found in philosophical books. This statue is also often referred to as being used as one of the symbols in the world and the science of philosophy.
Physically, this statue depicts a naked man sitting on his chin with a thoughtful position. Whether exactly what the statue is doing, is daydreaming or thinking about something. But clearly visible from the look on his face and sitting position, the statue seemed to express the whole human identity as a whole. The depiction of the statue is really a depiction of the existence of every human being, which tends to think while supporting his chin.
Apparently Auguste Rodin has spent all his life to explore the science of philosophy and art. In addition he also claimed to deepen the art of making sculpture. In the history of making sculpture The Thinker Rodin has said that this statue is one of his very popular and famous work. The making of the Thinker statue took place in the 19th century. In the 19th century is a peak of human thinking that is progressing rapidly.
Rodin also claimed that he also dedicated in the development of the era during his life that is in the year 1840 to 1917, especially in the field of art and science. Before he died, Rodin hoped that science and art would continue to grow along with the rapid development of technology. Not only that, he also hopes the science of philosophy also developed.
Well, back about the Thinker statue. This statue itself is a statue made of bronze, has a height of 183 cm (73 inches). Initially the statue of The Thinker is called The Poet. The name was changed to The Thinker because it adapted to the development of the era. The Thinker statue was originally ruled out not in heroic isolation, but as part of the monumental Rodin Gate of Hell. A pair of bronze doors intended for the recent Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. The enormous size and extraordinary detail of the towering parts takes 37 years of work from Rodin. Throughout that time, Gates of Hell was never finished and the museum itself was never built. The Hell Gate is 6 meters high, 4 meters wide and 1 meter deep (19.7 x 13 x 3.3 feet) and contains 180 figures.
This section, known as The Gates of Hell (French: La Porte de l'Enfer), is based on the epic poem of the 16th century, The Divine Comedy by Dante. Some critics believe Thinker, in the center of the composition above the threshold and about 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) taller than most other figures, was originally intended to depict Dante at the gates of Hell, contemplating his great poetry. However, there is a questionable aspect in this interpretation, including the figure is naked, Dante fully clothed throughout his poetry, and that the figure, as used, is completely incompatible with Dante's unfavorable figure. The statue is naked, for Rodin wants a heroic figure in the Michelangelo tradition, to represent both intellect and poetry. Another interpretation is that the Thinker is Rodin himself who is meditating on his composition. Others believe that the figure may be Adam, contemplating the destruction that a man brought about because of his sin.
Rodin made the first small plaster version around 1880. The first large-scale bronze bronze was completed in 1902 but was not presented to the public until 1904. It belonged to the city of Paris thanks to a subscription organized by admirer Rodin, and Laid in front of the Panthéon in 1906. In 1922, it was transferred to the Biron Hôtel, which had been converted into the Rodin Museum. In his life, Rodin made at least 10 castings of The Thinker. After his death in 1917, the right to reconstitute was granted to the French state. Since then, that number has grown to more than 20. Currently, Plasma and bronze versions of The Thinker can be seen at Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria, Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Washington DC National Art Gallery, Metropolitan Museum in New York, Rodin Museum in Philadelphia and Musée Rodin Paris, just to name a few. There is also a marking Rodin grave.
The details of the Gates of Hell were first named The Thinker by foundry workers, who noted the similarity to Michelangelo's statue of Lorenzo de Medici called "Il Penseroso" (The Thinker). During its use as a public monument in Paris from 1906 onwards, The Thinker became known as a symbol of the socialist movement in France during times of political and social turmoil.
At about 1:00 am on March 24, 1970, a bomb ruined the Cleveland Museum Rodin's version of The Thinker. The bomb itself is placed on a pedestal supporting the enlargement and has the power of about three sticks of dynamite. No one was hurt, but the base of the statue and lower legs were destroyed. The statue is still on display, though it has not been restored.
There's about The Thinker, a statue that is a symbol of philosophy and human existence. Keep Follow @AllAboutArts for more informative and interesting things about art. See you next post....
