Camille Claudel und Bernhard Hoetger Emanzipation von Rodin

Camille Claudel and Bernhard Hoetger: Emancipation from Rodin – A Special Exhibition at the Alte Nationalgalerie

The Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin presents a groundbreaking special exhibition in collaboration with the Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum in Bremen and the Musée Camille Claudel in France. For the first time since 1905, the sculptures of Camille Claudel and Bernhard Hoetger are brought together, shedding light on a little-known artistic encounter in early 20th-century European art history.

Though a decade apart in age, Claudel and Hoetger crossed paths in the avant-garde circles of Paris, both seeking artistic recognition and striving to break free from the towering influence of Auguste Rodin. In 1905, Parisian gallerist Eugène Blot showcased their work side by side in a dual exhibition. Now, 120 years later, the Alte Nationalgalerie revisits this historic moment with 67 works from international museums and private collections.

Highlights include Claudel’s iconic sculptures such as La Valse, L’Implorante, and La Vague, as well as Hoetger’s expressive bronzes like Blinde and Fécondité. The exhibition also celebrates a recent acquisition by the Nationalgalerie: Claudel’s L’Implorante, a pivotal piece that enhances the museum’s holdings of Impressionist sculpture and represents a key addition to its collection of female artists.

The exhibition design evokes the 19th-century display style, placing the mostly small-scale sculptures amidst drapery, carpets, and plants, offering a vivid sense of the era’s aesthetic context. Camille Claudel & Bernhard Hoetger. Emancipation from Rodin invites visitors to rediscover two remarkable artists and their shared legacy of innovation and independence.