Camille Claudel La Valse

CAMILLE CLAUDEL’S LA VALSE (1895)

Camile Claudel dealt with the onslaught of being in a man’s shadow. A man which she loved, Rodin. At one point, an assistant in his studio, she felt overlooked. She began branching out and creating her own pieces. Once their love had dissolved and she had aborted a baby they had created Camille’s despair travelled through her pieces, sexualized and bare. Unfortunately her pieces received much criticism for being a product of Rodin. As if she was only able to create pieces, which were influenced by her mast, lacking individuality.This unfortunately drove Camille insane, literally.

This sculptor, La Valse, is of her earlier work. There is spirit which can be compared to Rodin however her imagination and style is purely her own in this Bronze ‘Waltz’. There is a passion within it that gives off the longing for affection and simplicity of lovingness. The drapery falling off of the women’s body and being pulled off to the right is strategic structurally. It makes you feel the movement of the piece. The way that fabric becomes one with the women seems as though there could be messages there which are hidden under the surface. She has them holding their hands out and the man dipping the women down as you would in a dance. She also portrays the majority of her figures bare skinned against each, representing an intimacy intrinsic in their movement captured in time. The way Claudel captures the arms, back and shoulder muscles is spectacular. You are caught in the embrace of his arm wrapped around her lower back. And how distinguishing she is able to be. It would be unique to see the liveliness of this piece in person and the meticulous details in each figure.