Born in 1864, died in 1943 — forgotten by the world, left to rot in a mental hospital.
Born in 1864, died in 1943 — forgotten by the world, left to rot in a mental hospital. What was her story? She came to Paris to study art, at a time when the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts was only open to men. Determined to join studios that welcomed women. There she met and became the lover of the famous sculptor Auguste Rodin. Their relationship was one of passionate passion and shared artwork – they created side by side, their collaborative genius preserved in works now housed in the Rodin Museum and the Musée d’Orsay. But Rodin, who entered into a long-standing relationship with another woman, eventually separated from Camille. As her fame rose, so did his. She was scorned, ostracized and dismissed – not only as a lover, but also as an artist. Lonely, insecure and out of sight, she struggled to sell her work. In addition to her loneliness, her brother, the famous poet and diplomat Paul Claudel, played a major role in her downfall. Deemed “too modern” and a source of family disgrace, Camille was forcibly institutionalized by her family. For 30 years she struggled to explain the injustice of her imprisonment, writing anguished letters to friends and family, begging for her release. Her clarity and heartbreak resonate in these preserved writings. On October 19, 1943, Camille Claudel died of malnutrition in a French hospital. No family members attended her funeral, and her body was buried in a common grave. Decades later, the world finally recognized her brilliance. Her legacy has been restored: her sculptures now stand proudly next to Rodin's, and a museum near Paris is dedicated entirely to her work.
