Eve, the bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, was originally modeled in 1881 and later cast in 1910. This masterpiece was inspired by biblical stories from the book of Genesis with Rodin having initially intended to pair it with Adam in The Gates of Hell. Eve is depicted as a sensuous figure captured emotively, yet modestly crossing her arms while lowering her head.
Rodin’s unique style involved using rougher and more unfinished surfaces to capture restlessness, corporeality, and movement in his sculptures. Drawing also played a critical part in his practice often representing the first stage of creating a sculpture. In addition to Eve, Rodin created another artwork titled Eve and The Serpent that portrayed Eve despairing after she disobeyed God.
The Gates of Hell sculpture project commissioned by the French government for Musée de Arts Décoratifs in Paris featured several works including The Thinker which became one of his well-known pieces reflecting his admiration for Dante and creative thinkers in general. Overall, Rodin’s work on Eve remains iconic thanks to its expressive nature that captures both beauty and emotion through a unique approach to sculpting technique.
