The artwork named “Ugolino” was crafted by the renowned artist Auguste Rodin in 1882, originating from France. This bronze sculpture exemplifies the Impressionist movement, a genre that prioritizes the artist’s perception and portrayal of light and its changing qualities. Rodin’s sculpture can be found residing within the esteemed Musée Rodin in Paris, France.
The artwork is a powerful and emotive bronze sculpture. It represents a tragic scene inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno,” from the “Divine Comedy”. The work depicts Count Ugolino della Gherardesca in a moment of profound despair. He is hunched over, his face is contorted in anguish, silently pondering his grim fate. The composition shows Ugolino naked, gnawing at his hand, a gesture that could portray intense starvation or immense psychological torment. Surrounding him are the figures of his young offspring, who are similarly wrought with suffering. Rodin’s commanding sculpture captures the severe emotional distress and the human condition in an expressive, physical form, displaying the complexity of human emotion through a raw, intricate depiction embedded within the Impressionist style.
