Camille Claudel 1864-1943

Camille Claudel was undoubtedly one of the few great female sculptors of our time. Her life remained a mystery, more obscured than illuminated by some well-known catchphrase-like accounts and rumors: she was a very strong-willed artist, the lover of Auguste Rodin, her life ended in alcohol and poverty, and she died in a mental institution. To counter other speculative interpretations of this life, Reine-Marie Paris, a granddaughter of Paul Claudel, published her book. She had access to the Claudel family archive, and she adheres strictly to the facts in her portrayal.

Camille Claudel was born in 1864. She discovered her artistic talent at an early age. The family moved to Paris in 1881. There, she joined the Académie Colarossi and soon founded her own studio with two other young female artists. At some point during this time, the exact date is unknown, she entered Rodin's studio and became his assistant. A years-long tumultuous love affair connected the two, a painfully intense relationship that ultimately fell apart. Artistically, recognition for Camille's work grew, although it was always measured against Rodin's work. Then the decline began. After the end of her relationship with Rodin, it became difficult for her to maintain an independent existence. She relied on the support of her famous brother, Paul Claudel, she drank, became disheveled, wandered the streets of Paris at night, and was eventually committed to a mental institution by her family.

Beyond the biography, the book includes a selection of letters, an account of her medical history, as well as a catalog of her works and a bibliography. Bernard Howells wrote an afterword about Camille's relationship with her brother Paul. The book documents her sculptural work with 70 black-and-white and 6 color photographs.