The Thinker
The artist
Auguste Rodin (French), cast in 1904.
What you see
A strong, muscular man sits bent forward on a rock, his chin resting on the back of his hand, completely lost in deep thought.
The story
Rodin first made this figure as part of a huge doorway called The Gates of Hell, where he sat above the door thinking. People loved the figure so much that Rodin made it big and famous all on its own.
The style
It is made of bronze, a metal poured hot into a mold and then cooled and polished until it shines.
Look closer
Look at how every muscle is tight and his toes grip the rock. Even his whole body seems to be thinking, not just his head.
Where to see it
You can see it at the Musee Rodin in Paris, France, where copies also stand in gardens around the world.
Fun fact
The Thinker is one of the most copied sculptures ever, and there are more than twenty large bronze versions in museums across the globe.