Life-like Naturalistic Realism: Bronze Age - Young Man Statue, Bronze, 1875-1876, Collection of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. This work, exhibited at the Salon in 1876, sparked controversy and was accused of being a direct cast from life. Indeed, due to its vitality and lifelike quality, it appeared so realistic as to be astonishing! One can imagine that the accusations made at the time were not entirely without reason. In Rodin’s naturalistic approach, akin to the realist master Courbet, he presented this statue, which is life-size. Its dynamic curves and undulating muscles seem to represent God's most perfect creation, making it Rodin's most important masterpiece from his youth.