François Auguste René Rodin (12 November 1840 – 17 November 1917) was a French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture. He was schooled traditionally and took a craftsman-like approach to his work. Rodin possessed a unique ability to model a complex, turbulent, and deeply pocketed surface in clay. He is known for such sculptures as The Thinker, Monument to Balzac, The Kiss, The Burghers of Calais, and The Gates of Hell.

Many of Rodin's most notable sculptures were criticized as they clashed with predominant figurative sculpture traditions in which works were decorative, formulaic, or highly thematic. Rodin's most original work departed from traditional themes of mythology and allegory. He modeled the human body with naturalism, and his sculptures celebrate individual character and physicality. Although Rodin was sensitive to the controversy surrounding his work, he refused to change his style, and his continued output brought increasing favor from the government and the artistic community.

From the unexpected naturalism of Rodin's first major figure – inspired by his 1875 trip to Italy – to the unconventional memorials whose commissions he later sought, his reputation grew, and Rodin became the preeminent French sculptor of his time. By 1900, he was a world-renowned artist. Wealthy private clients sought Rodin's work after his World's Fair exhibit, and he kept company with a variety of high-profile intellectuals and artists. His student, Camille Claudel, became his associate, lover, and creative rival. Rodin's other students included Antoine Bourdelle, Constantin Brâncuși, and Charles Despiau. He married his lifelong companion, Rose Beuret, in the last year of both their lives. His sculptures suffered a decline in popularity after his death in 1917, but within a few decades his legacy solidified. Rodin remains one of the few sculptors widely known outside the visual arts community.

François Auguste René Rodin (12 novembre 1840 - 17 novembre 1917) était un sculpteur français généralement considéré comme le fondateur de la sculpture moderne. Il a été scolarisé traditionnellement et a adopté une approche artisanale de son travail. Rodin possédait une capacité unique à modéliser une surface complexe, turbulente et profondément encaissée dans l'argile. Il est connu pour des sculptures telles que Le Penseur, Monument à Balzac, Le Baiser, Les Bourgeois de Calais et Les Portes de l'Enfer.

Bon nombre des sculptures les plus remarquables de Rodin ont été critiquées car elles se heurtaient à des traditions de sculpture figurative prédominantes dans lesquelles les œuvres étaient décoratives, stéréotypées ou hautement thématiques. L'œuvre la plus originale de Rodin s'écarte des thèmes traditionnels de la mythologie et de l'allégorie. Il a modelé le corps humain avec naturalisme, et ses sculptures célèbrent le caractère individuel et la physicalité. Bien que Rodin soit sensible à la controverse entourant son travail, il refuse de changer de style et sa production continue attire de plus en plus les faveurs du gouvernement et de la communauté artistique.

Du naturalisme inattendu de la première grande figure de Rodin – inspiré de son voyage en Italie en 1875 – aux mémoriaux non conventionnels dont il sollicita plus tard les commandes, sa réputation grandit et Rodin devint le sculpteur français prééminent de son temps. En 1900, il était un artiste de renommée mondiale. De riches clients privés recherchaient le travail de Rodin après son exposition à l'Exposition universelle, et il côtoyait une variété d'intellectuels et d'artistes de premier plan. Son élève, Camille Claudel, devient son associé, son amant et son rival créatif. Les autres étudiants de Rodin comprenaient Antoine Bourdelle, Constantin Brâncuși et Charles Despiau. Il a épousé sa compagne de toujours, Rose Beuret, au cours de la dernière année de leur vie. Ses sculptures ont subi une baisse de popularité après sa mort en 1917, mais en quelques décennies, son héritage s'est solidifié. Rodin reste l'un des rares sculpteurs largement connus en dehors du milieu des arts visuels.