BALTIMORE, MD.-The Modern Masters Series at the BMA continues with this intimate one-gallery exhibition exploring the legacy of the great French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840–1917). One of the most popular sculptors of the early 20th century, Rodin changed the face of figurative sculpture for the modern era, introducing a new age of artistic expression and inspiring a generation of artists from Edgar Degas to Henri Matisse. Rodin: Expression & Influence, on view August 1, 2007 – April 6, 2008, showcases nearly 30 works from the BMA’s collection by Rodin and his contemporaries, many on display for the first time.

Highlights of the exhibition include Rodin’s The Thinker, one of the artist’s most well-known and iconic works, as well as four bronze casts of the great French writer Honoré de Balzac. The two busts, one head, and a full standing figure reveal Rodin’s extensive campaign to monumentalize this literary giant. Other featured works include the bust Mignon, depicting Rodin’s long-time companion Rose Beuret; figure studies from The Burghers of Calais, one of Rodin’s most heroic and moving historical tributes; and two figures for The Gates of Hell, the monumental masterpiece that the artist worked on from 1880 until his death in 1917.

Rodin: Expression & Influence also features sculpture by Emile Antoine Bourdelle, Edgar Degas, Charles Despiau, Auguste Renoir, Aristide Maillol, and Pablo Picasso—as well as a selection of works on paper. In addition to presenting Rodin’s expressive variations, the exhibition traces the ways in which his artistic process charted new territory and both inspired and provoked reaction from his contemporaries.

Rodin: Expression & Influence is curated by Associate Curator of European Painting & Sculpture Dr. Oliver Shell. The exhibition is generously supported by Stiles Tuttle Colwil and Jonathan Gargiulo.