Recovering from the Balzac Backlash: Torso of a Nude Muse

In 1905, the International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Gravers in London commissioned Rodin, then its president, to create a monument to the American painter James McNeill Whistler. At the time, Rodin was still reeling from the harsh criticism his Balzac monument had received despite everything he'd poured into it, and he resolved to take a different approach this time.

So for this monument to Whistler, Rodin decided not to depict Whistler directly at all, but instead to convey his genius through the metaphorical figure of a muse. The model was Gwen John, who was Rodin's romantic partner at the time. The result is the sculpture you see here. Leaving out the arms entirely, with only the torso remaining, naturally calls to mind the Venus de Milo at the Louvre.

Ancient artifacts had a profound effect on Rodin's work throughout his career, an influence that only deepened in his later years. This sculpture, too, carries an unmistakable air of ancient Greek sculpture. When it was first unveiled, some critics reacted unfavorably, but the public responded with enthusiasm — and that warm reception helped Rodin recover, to some degree, from the humiliation of the Balzac affair.