The Thinker

Auguste Rodin created The Thinker in 1880 as part of his monumental project The Gates of Hell. Originally titled The Poet, the figure was meant to represent Dante contemplating his epic work. The sculpture depicts a nude male figure seated on a rock, chin resting on the back of his right hand, body tense with concentration. Rodin later separated the figure from the gates and enlarged it to heroic scale.

The first monumental bronze casting was completed in 1904 and now sits in the gardens of the Musée Rodin in Paris. Standing 185 centimeters tall, the figure has become a universal symbol of intellectual contemplation. Over 27 full-sized bronze casts exist worldwide, though not all were made under Rodin's direct supervision. The sculpture's powerful pose and raw emotional intensity helped establish Rodin as the father of modern sculpture.