Illustrations for the "Divine Comedy" at the exhibition of little-known works by Auguste Rodin

The National Academy of Engraving and Fine Arts of San Fernando (La Calcografía Nacional de la Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando) presented an exhibition of some little-known graphic works by Auguste Rodin. The exhibition “Figures of Shadows” (Figuras de sombras), which opened yesterday, presents 129 works, mainly illustrations for the “Divine Comedy” by Dante, as well as the famous unfinished work of the artist “The Gates of Hell”. In 1897, these drawings were published in Maison Goupil.

The exhibition is divided into three groups: the actual illustrations for the work of Dante, biblical motifs inspired by the artist’s works by Michelangelo, and several paintings on other topics.

Particular attention is drawn to how Roden portrayed the paintings of Hell and people sentenced to various punishments: gutted heretics, blasphemers burning on fire, thieves turning into reptiles. These are the most “black” drawings of Rodin.

The interest of this exhibition lies not only in showing unpublished works by a French artist, but also in demonstrating the efforts made by the creators of Maison Goupil to democratize art, through its publication in extensive publishing programs.

According to the curator of the exhibition, Annick Bruder, “the photographic engraving technique itself was originally not the same as we know it today.” Therefore, the surviving works of Auguste Rodin are fundamental to understanding how they were turned into prints, using this technique and, thus, replicated.

Anna Sidorova