Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel (December 8, 1864 – October 19, 1943) was a French sculptor and graphic artist. She was the older sister of the French poet and diplomat, Paul Claudel.

Creative period

Fascinated with stone and soil as a child, as a young woman she studied at the Académie Colarossi with sculptor Alfred Boucher. (At the time, the École des Beaux-Arts barred women from enrolling to study.) In 1882, Claudel rented a workshop with other young women, mostly English, including Jessie Lipscomb. In 1883, she met Auguste Rodin who taught sculpture to Claudel and her friends.

Related Topics:
Académie Colarossi - Alfred Boucher - École des Beaux-Arts - 1882 - Jessie Lipscomb - 1883 - Auguste Rodin

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Around 1884, she started working in Rodin's workshop. Claudel became his source of inspiration, his model, his confidante and lover. She never lived with Rodin, who was reluctant to end his 20-year relationship with Rose Beuret. Claudel's friend Jessie Libscomb later said that Claudel and Rodin had two children. Knowledge of the affair agitated her family, especially her mother who never completely agreed with Claudel's involvement in the arts. As a consequence, she left the family house. In 1892, perhaps after an unwanted abortion, Claudel ended the intimate aspect of her relationship with Rodin, although they saw one another regularly until 1898.

Related Topics:
1884 - Rose Beuret - 1892 - 1898

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Beginning in 1903, she exhibited her works at the Salon des Artistes français or at the Salon d'Automne.

Related Topics:
1903 - Salon des Artistes français - Salon d'Automne

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From 1905 on, Claudel acted mentally deranged. She destroyed most of her statues, disappeared for long periods of time and acted paranoid. She accused Rodin of stealing her ideas and of leading a conspiracy to kill her. After the wedding of her brother (who supported her until then) in 1906 and his return to China after a stay in France, she lived secluded in her workshop.

Related Topics:
1905 - Paranoid - 1906 - China

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