Which sculpture did Auguste Rodin create as a monument to French novelist Honoré de Balzac?

Auguste Rodin created Monument to Balzac as a monument to the French novelist Honoré de Balzac.

The Société des gens de lettres commissioned Rodin to make the work in 1891. Rodin researched Balzac extensively, visiting the writer’s birthplace and studying descriptions of his appearance. He also arranged for clothing resembling Balzac’s famous dressing gown so that the sculpture would convey the author’s presence rather than merely reproduce a portrait.

Rodin’s finished figure was dramatically simplified and wrapped in a large robe. When it was shown publicly in 1898, many critics found it unconventional and unfinished-looking. The controversy contributed to the work’s lasting reputation as a landmark of modern sculpture.

The monument is not a conventional seated literary portrait. Its broad silhouette and concealed body deliberately emphasize Balzac’s forceful personality and imaginative power.