Camille Claudel Biography

Born asCamille Rosalie Claudel
Occup.Sculptor
FromFrance
BornDecember 8, 1864
Fère-en-Tardenois, Aisne, France
DiedOctober 19, 1943
Montdevergues, Vaucluse, France
CauseIllness
Aged78 years
Early Life and Household Background
Camille Rosalie Claudel was born upon December 8, 1864, in Fère-en-Tardenois, Aisne, France. She was the second child of Louis-Prosper Claudel, a farmer and civil servant, and Louise-Athanaïse Cécile Cerveaux, who originated from a line of Catholic farmers and priests. Camille had a sibling, Paul Claudel, who would later become a widely known poet and diplomat.

From a young age, Camille displayed an eager interest in art, especially sculpture, which deviated from the expectations of women at the time. Her household transferred to different places in her youth, ultimately settling in Montparnasse, Paris, which was a hub for artists and intellectuals.

Artistic Education and Influences
Acknowledging her skill and zeal for sculpture, Camille's dad supported her education at the Académie Colarossi in Paris, one of the couple of locations accepting female students at that time. She got direction from prominent carvers Alfred Boucher and later from Auguste Rodin, who ended up being a significant influence on her life and work. Rodin recognized Claudel's natural talent and took her under his wing, eventually developing a partnership that extended beyond professional borders.

Professional Relationship with Auguste Rodin
Camille Claudel's expert and personal relationship with Auguste Rodin was both productive and troubled. Signing up with Rodin's studio in the early 1880s, she contributed substantially to some of his major works. Reports about their romantic participation spread in creative circles, and lots of expect that Claudel was both his muse and partner. Throughout this period, she developed a few of her most well-known pieces, such as "La Valse" and "L'Âge Mûr".

Nevertheless, Claudel longed for recognition in her own right and grew progressively frustrated with being eclipsed by Rodin. Their intense relationship, paired with professional rivalry, ultimately soured.

Battle for Artistic Independence
In 1893, Camille Claudel ended her cooperation with Rodin looking for autonomy. In spite of facing substantial social and financial obstacles, she stood firm in establishing her status as an independent artist. Claudel developed a few of her best-known works throughout this time, including "Clotho" and "The Mature Age", which checked out themes of human emotion and seclusion.

Throughout her profession, Camille faced obvious sexism and criticism from contemporary art critics who often attributed her achievements to her association with Rodin. Persisting in spite of the gender predispositions of her period, she remained committed to her craft and continued to exhibit her works individually.

Decline and Institutionalization
The early 20th century brought substantial difficulties for Claudel. She increasingly displayed indications of mental disorder, including fear and anxiety, which were exacerbated by individual and financial troubles. After her dad's death in 1913 and at her sibling Paul's prompting, Claudel was confined to a psychological organization in Montdevergues, where she invested the staying 30 years of her life.

In spite of occasional efforts by friends and art enthusiasts to protect her release, her mother and her sibling contributed in prolonging her institutionalization. Throughout these decades, she ceased shaping and was largely forgotten by the art world.

Legacy and Recognition
Camille Claudel died on October 19, 1943, in Montdevergues. For many years her contributions to the world of art were eclipsed by her association with Rodin. Nevertheless, towards the late 20th century, interest in her works was restored, and art historians started to recognize her as a substantial artist in her own right.

Her works have been showcased worldwide, and she has actually been the subject of many books, exhibits, and even a biographical movie, "Camille Claudel", highlighting her life and accomplishments. Today, Camille Claudel is commemorated as a pioneering female sculptor who conquered myriad challenges to leave an enduring mark on the history of art. Her story is a poignant pointer of the battles faced by ladies artists even today and works as an inspiration for future generations.

Our collection contains 26 quotes who is written / told by Camille.

Related authors: Auguste Rodin (Sculptor), Paul Claudel (Dramatist), Isabelle Adjani (Actress), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q: Camille Claudel movie streaming
    A: Camille Claudel movies can be streamed on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or rented through services like Apple iTunes.
  • Q: Camille Claudel husband
    A: Camille Claudel never married.
  • Q: Rodin and Camille Claudel movie
    A: The film 'Camille Claudel' (1988) and 'Camille Claudel 1915' (2013) depict her life and relationship with Rodin.
  • Q: Camille Claudel cause of death
    A: Camille Claudel died of unknown causes in 1943.
  • Q: Camille Claudel Rodin relationship
    A: Camille Claudel was a student, muse, and lover of Auguste Rodin, a renowned sculptor.
  • Q: Camille Claudel movie Netflix
    A: The movie 'Camille Claudel 1915' is occasionally available on Netflix, depending on regional availability.
  • Q: How old was Camille Claudel?
    A: She became 78 years old
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26 Famous quotes by Camille Claudel

Small: You find me at work excuse the dust on my blouse. I sculpt my marble myself
"You find me at work; excuse the dust on my blouse. I sculpt my marble myself"
Small: I would prefer to have a more appealing job. If I could still change careers, I would prefer it.
"I would prefer to have a more appealing job. If I could still change careers, I would prefer it. This unfortunate art is made for long beards and ugly faces rather than for a relatively well-endowed woman"
Small: I will never forget my beautiful days with you in Shanklin, they are certainly the most pleasant ones o
"I will never forget my beautiful days with you in Shanklin, they are certainly the most pleasant ones of my life. Look, I have tears in my eyes just to think about it. I am furious to be here, it is the end of happiness for a whole year"
Small: I tolerate my faults but not at all other peoples
"I tolerate my faults but not at all other people's"
Small: I have had the problem of seeing my male model go to Italy and... stay there
"I have had the problem of seeing my male model go to Italy and... stay there"
Small: I dont want to say anything because I know I am unable to protect you from the harm that I see
"I don't want to say anything because I know I am unable to protect you from the harm that I see"
Small: I am scared I dont know what is going to happen to me. What was the point of working so hard and of bei
"I am scared; I don't know what is going to happen to me. What was the point of working so hard and of being talented, to be rewarded like this? Never a penny, tormented all my life. It is horrible; one cannot imagine it"
Small: I took all my wax studies and threw them in the fire... thats the way it is when something unpleasant h
"I took all my wax studies and threw them in the fire... that's the way it is when something unpleasant happens to me. I take my hammer and I squash a figure"
Small: I have been back in Paris for two weeks. Nothing new. Life is still bitter
"I have been back in Paris for two weeks. Nothing new. Life is still bitter"
Small: I have all sorts of problems and feel discouraged
"I have all sorts of problems and feel discouraged"
Small: I am not feeling any better because I cannot stay in bed, having constant cause for walking. They say I
"I am not feeling any better because I cannot stay in bed, having constant cause for walking. They say I leave at night by the window of my tower, hanging from a red umbrella with which I set fire to the forest!"
Small: You see that it is not at all like Rodin... I share these only with you, dont show them
"You see that it is not at all like Rodin... I share these only with you, don't show them"
Small: You promised to take care of me and not to turn your back on me. How is it possible that you never wrot
"You promised to take care of me and not to turn your back on me. How is it possible that you never wrote to me even once and you never came back to see me? Do you think that it is fun for me to spend months, even years, without any news, without any hope!"
Small: My countrymen have commissioned a bust of the Republic. It will be placed on the fountain of my native
"My countrymen have commissioned a bust of the Republic. It will be placed on the fountain of my native town"
Small: I thank you for your kind invitation to introduce me to the president of the Republic. Since I have not
"I thank you for your kind invitation to introduce me to the president of the Republic. Since I have not been out of my atelier for two months, I have no appropriate costume for this circumstance. Please excuse me"
Small: When you left on Saturday, I felt a horrible void, I saw you everywhere, on the beach, in your room, in
"When you left on Saturday, I felt a horrible void, I saw you everywhere, on the beach, in your room, in the garden: impossible for me to get used to the idea that you had left"
Small: Send me one hundred francs on our future deals, otherwise I will disappear in a cataclysm
"Send me one hundred francs on our future deals, otherwise I will disappear in a cataclysm"
Small: I sleep completely naked to make me believe you are here, but when I wake up it is not the same thing.
"I sleep completely naked to make me believe you are here, but when I wake up it is not the same thing. Most of all, don't deceive me with other women any more"
Small: Sir Rodin convinced my parents to have me committed they are all in Paris to arrange it
"Sir Rodin convinced my parents to have me committed; they are all in Paris to arrange it"
Small: Last night, two men tried to force my shutters. I recognized them: they are two of Rodins Italian model
"Last night, two men tried to force my shutters. I recognized them: they are two of Rodin's Italian models. He told them to kill me. I am in his way; he wants to get rid of me"
Small: It is in fact agreed that I am the plague, the cholera of the benevolent and generous men who are inter
"It is in fact agreed that I am the plague, the cholera of the benevolent and generous men who are interested in art and that, when I show myself with my plasters, even the Emperor of the Sahara would flee"
Small: If you are nice, and keep your promise, we will be in paradise
"If you are nice, and keep your promise, we will be in paradise"
Small: You know what black hatred women feel toward me as soon as they see me, until I return inside my shell,
"You know what black hatred women feel toward me as soon as they see me, until I return inside my shell, they use every possible weapon. As soon as a generous man tries to help me out, a woman is here to hold his arm and prevent him from acting"
Small: I would have preferred to be successful here with a piece that cost me a huge amount of money and effor
"I would have preferred to be successful here with a piece that cost me a huge amount of money and effort... rather than sending to Bohemia some ordinary works"
Small: I am in no mood to be deceived any longer by the crafty devil and false character whose greatest pleasu
"I am in no mood to be deceived any longer by the crafty devil and false character whose greatest pleasure is to take advantage of everyone"
Small: Dont fear anything for your letters, they are burnt one by one and I hope you do the same with mine
"Don't fear anything for your letters, they are burnt one by one and I hope you do the same with mine"