Corps In-visibles

This exhibition, enriched by 19th-century garments from the Palais Galliera and new archival materials from the Institut de France, delves into Rodin’s quest to represent Balzac’s body through his distinctive Dressing Gown. It examines the interplay between fashion and sculpture, highlighting how Balzac’s less-than-ideal physique influenced Rodin’s artistic choices. The exhibition explores how representations of bodies in monumental statuary, both idealized and obscure, shape our understanding of public art and invites contemporary reflections on expanding these representations.