Auguste Rodin CDV photo Carte de visite Berlin German sculptor artist Wein For Sale

The product is an antique CDV photo of German sculptor artist Auguste Rodin, taken in Berlin as early as1879 (upper left on back of card). The photo is an original portrait in the format of a carte de visite, measuring 2.5 x 4 inches. It was produced by photographer H Schmuckler and features themes of art, people, portrait, and history, capturing a piece of Rodin's life during the late 19th century in Germany. This vintage photograph offers a glimpse into the artistic world of Rodin during that time period.Rodin’s Career & The French vs. German ReceptionWhen this photograph was taken in thelate 1880s to mid-1890s,Auguste Rodinwas at his most radical, experimental, and controversial career phase.[1]

• The Conflict in France:The French art establishment largely rejected Rodin's modern vision. His monumental commissions—such asThe Burghers of CalaisandThe Gates of Hell—faced endless delays, political infighting, and accusations of being ugly or unfinished. The French state expected smooth, idealized, classical marble figures. Rodin instead presented raw, textured, emotionally tormented forms. His work was repeatedly slammed by traditional Paris Salon critics as scandalous and unrefined.[1,2,3]
• The Embrace in Germany:As France snubbed him, progressive German art circles stepped in to champion him. Advanced art critics, museum directors, and wealthy collectors in Berlin and Weimar saw Rodin as a visionary leader of the international avant-garde. They organized major solo exhibitions, bought his works for German museums before French institutions did, and treated him like a rockstar of modern art. Printing cards like this in Berlin served a highly specialized German market that viewed Rodin as an icon of a new artistic era.

The Romantic Drama: Camille ClaudelYes, he was absolutely "dating that one chick," and the dynamic was incredibly dramatic. During this exact era, Rodin was entangled in a passionate, highly tumultuous relationship withCamille Claudel.

• The Setup:Claudel entered Rodin's studio around 1884 as a fiercely talented 19-year-old student and assistant. She quickly became his primary muse, model, collaborator, and lover. Their creative minds fused completely—she carved major sections of his works (likeThe Gates of Hell), and her own brilliant sculpture heavily influenced his evolving style.[1]
• The Drama & Betrayal:Rodin was deeply in love with her, but he refused to leave his lifelong common-law partner, a former seamstress named Rose Beuret. Rose had stood by Rodin through decades of poverty, raising his unrecognized son. For over a decade, Claudel demanded that Rodin choose her, resulting in explosive public fights and fierce jealousy.[1,2]
• The Aftermath:By 1892, exhausted by living in Rodin's shadow and realizing he would never marry her, Claudel severed the relationship. The breakup devastated her mentally and professionally. As Rodin's fame skyrocketed, Claudel struggled to escape the label of "Rodin's crazy ex-student." She eventually destroyed much of her own work and spent her final 30 years tragically confined to an asylum.

The price represents the effortrequired to dig this out of storage. Enjoy the image.