THE ARKIN İSKELE
ART GALLERY

This is a monochrome reproduction of the portrait of Rodin in his studio by French artist Jean François Raffaëlli. Raffaëlli was a contemporary of Rodin who exhibited with the Impressionists in the 1880s at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Salon. Known primarily as a realist painter, Raffaëlli’s depiction of people and places are concerned with depicting their essence and “characterisms”, as opposed to literal depictions, and has been observed as a part of the anti-aesthetic, anti-romantic approach of the literary Naturalists, such as Emile Zola and Joris-Karl Huysmans. The original watercolour (58.2 × 39.5 cm) depicts Rodin immersed in the creative act of modelling clay, offering viewers an authentic glimpse into the sculptor's world.

The reproduction is published in The Revue Illustrée, a significant French illustrated journal published from 1885 to 1912, playing a vital role in the visual and literary culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was particularly important for its contribution to the dissemination of art, literature, fashion, and cultural commentary during the Belle Époque. Created around 1889, this reproduction coincides with a period when Rodin was gaining significant recognition, and it contributes to the visual documentation of his life and work during this pivotal time.