The Thinker (French: Le Penseur), by Auguste Rodin, is a bronze sculpture depicting a nude male figure of heroic size, seated on a large rock, leaning forward, right elbow placed upon the left thigh, back of the right hand supporting the chin in a posture evocative of deep thought and contemplation. This universally recognized expression of ...

Feb 25, 2025 · The Thinker, sculpture of a pensive nude male by French artist Auguste Rodin, one of his most well-known works. Many marble and bronze editions in several sizes were executed in Rodin’s lifetime and after, but the most famous version is the 6-foot (1.8-metre) bronze statue (commonly called a monumental) cast in 1904 that sits in the gardens ...

In the late 1880s Rodin began to exhibit the figure, sometimes with the title Poet, other times as Poet/Thinker. By 1896, however, it had become simply The Thinker, a still more universal image that reveals in physical terms the mental effort and even anguish of creativity.

In a real sense, The Thinker is Rodin. Brutishly muscled yet engrossed in thought, coiled in tension yet loose in repose, the sculpture, according to one early twentieth-century critic, embodies both "dream and action."

While remaining in place on the monumental Gates of Hell, The Thinker was exhibited individually in 1888 and thus became an independent work. Enlarged in 1904, its colossal version proved even more popular: this image of a man lost in thought, but whose powerful body suggests a great capacity for action, has become one of the most celebrated ...

Aug 20, 2024 · From its appearance in films like Night at the Museum 2 to Banksy’s tongue-in-cheek version The Drinker, Rodin’s famous sculpture of a sitting man in deep thought has been endlessly reinterpreted and referenced. But what is it that makes The Thinker so extraordinary?

Sep 1, 2021 · Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker exists in about 28 full-size bronze casts, each approximately 73 inches high, in museums around the world, as well as several dozen castings of smaller size and plaster models and studies.

Jun 9, 2024 · “The Thinker” by Auguste Rodin is more than a masterpiece of modern sculpture; it is a symbol of intellectual and artistic achievement. Its creation marked a significant moment in art history, showcasing Rodin’s ability to capture the essence of human thought and …

May 22, 2024 · Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ is more than a mere art piece—it has become a symbol of human introspection and intellect. The sculpture’s robust form and thoughtful pose echo the complexities of the human mind and the philosophical spirit.

The Thinker (Le Pensure), originally entitled The Poet (Le Poète), resides atop the door panels. Some believe he is Dante observing his characters in The Inferno. Others postulate that The Thinker is Adam, musing about the destruction his sin brought upon mankind.