Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel was born on December 8, 1864, in Fère-en-Tardenois, France, and died on October 19, 1943, in Montdevergues, France. She was a remarkable French sculptor and artist, now considered one of the most talented sculptresses of all time. Here are some notable facts and figures about her life and career:

1. Family background: Claudel was the second oldest of three children. Her sister Louise was born in 1865 and her brother Paul in 1868. Her brother, Paul Claudel, would go on to become a famous poet and playwright.
2. Education: Claudel began her formal art education in 1881, at the age of 17, in Paris at the Académie Colarossi, one of the few Parisian art schools that accepted women.
3. Collaboration with Rodin: Claudel met Auguste Rodin in 1882, when she was 18, and began working for him when she was 20. Her relationship with Rodin was complex and controversial; they were colleagues as well as lovers.
4. Independent works: Despite her association with Rodin, Claudel also created her own works, including "The Waltz" (1889-1893), "The Maturity" (1893-1905), and "The Wave" (1897).
5. Mental health and hospitalization: In 1913, at the age of 49, Claudel was committed to the Ville-Evrard psychiatric hospital at the request of her family. She would spend the rest of her life in mental institutions, even though many believe she was not mentally ill. She spent a total of 30 years in the Montdevergues asylum where she died in 1943.
6. Posthumous recognition: After her death, Claudel's work was largely forgotten until it was rediscovered in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2005, the Musée Camille Claudel in Nogent-sur-Seine was opened, housing over 40 of her works.
7. Biographical film: A biographical film about Claudel was made in 1988, with Isabelle Adjani playing the title role, and for which she received an Oscar nomination. Another film, "Camille Claudel 1915", was released in 2013, focusing on her time in the psychiatric hospital.

Today, Claudel's life and work are recognized as important contributions to the history of art and women's history. Her commitment and passion for sculpture, despite the challenges she faced in a male-dominated art world, have made her an inspiring figure.