The Tragedy of Camille Claudel - a Genius who Died in an Insane Asylum

Talented from youth, inspired by nature, and captivated by love, Camille Claudel’s nuanced portrayals of the human form resulted in certain sculptures that the state and press censored as overly sensual and inappropriate. These circumstances may have contributed to her declining career and mental state. Sadly, following the end of her long-standing affair with fellow sculptor, Auguste Rodin, Camille’s underlying delicacy unravelled and she experienced a psychological breakdown. In 1913, Camille was committed to a mental asylum, where she remained until her death 30 years later. This action was the equivalent of caging a bird, and as Camille could not fly in captivity, she instead became the living embodiment of her pain, a symbol of the destruction of love, existing only in her own despair. Although she died in relative obscurity, interest in her art has grown dramatically, and there is now a National Museum in France dedicated to Camille’s life’s work. #CamilleClaudel #August