The exhibition “The Essence of Impressionism. Rodin’s sculptures” will be held in the Royal Baths’. The works of the eminent French artist and pioneer of modern sculpture, from the State Art Collections in Dresden (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden), will be on display at the Palace on the Island in the Royal Baths until 15 November 2022.

The exhibition at the Royal Baths Museum will explore the philosophy behind the French artist’s works and his approach to art. While academic sculptors emphasised the idealisation of the figures they depicted, Rodin believed that art was too far removed from real life and the challenges of the new era. He, therefore, adopted the formal and stylistic principles of Impressionism for his sculpture, and his work heralded Modernism.

The Royal Baths Museum is presenting three works by Rodin from the Dresden collection: “Jean d’Aire”, “Eve” and “Small Male Torso”. These sculptures will provide an insight into aspects of his work such as material, movement and the emotional states of the human being, which were extremely important to the artist.

The Deputy Minister of Culture and National Heritage and General Conservator of Antiquities Dr Jarosław Sellin, who attended the opening of the exhibition, said that the selected works by Rodin will allow the public to become acquainted with the artist’s approach to sculpture, but also with his vision of the further development of art.

‘We will have the opportunity to see that Rodin’s relationship with Impressionism is not direct and obvious from a historical point of view, but his sculptures in their own way embody the basic Impressionist principles: movement, spontaneity and light,’ said Deputy Minister Sellin.

Adrian Andrzejewski