La Douleur is a sculpture created by Auguste Rodin between 1889 and 1892. The hauntingly beautiful piece, which depicts the head of sorrow or grief, exemplifies Rodin’s mastery of capturing and conveying raw human emotions through his art. Rodin was born in obscurity and initially faced rejection from official academies before eventually achieving fame as a sculptor with an international following.
La Douleur has been cast by various foundries, including Georges Rudier Fondeur and Alexis Rudier Fondeur in Paris. There are several numbered casts of this work, with additional documentation provided by the Musee Rodin. In addition to La Douleur, Rodin’s larger body of work portrays the inner human spirit and emotion in a unique style that has never been replicated.
The Musee Rodin has cast numerous models of Rodin’s work, helping to expand his oeuvre beyond his lifetime. La Douleur is just one example of how he managed to capture raw emotional intensity through the medium of sculpture like no artist had done before him. As such, it remains an essential piece within artistic circles and can be viewed at museums around the world for those eager to see it in person.
