La Defense (The Call to Arms)

La Defense was created initially in 1879 before being cast in bronze in around 1910. This large piece can now be found Portland Art Museum's sculpture department.

Rodin was someone who studied the human body in considerable detail across his career in order to make his sculptures as lifelike as possible. He regularly used live models within his studio, some of whom appeared several times within different works. He would also photograph them in order to refer to them at a later date as well as sometimes producing quick drawings or watercolours that offered an alternative, two dimensional view of them. He found that each of the mediums in which he was involved could lead into each other, with his overall career improving as a result of the wide oeuvre that he produced over time. That said, we all now mostly remember him as a sculptor, first and foremost, and that medium would normally occupy the majority of his thinking. The piece found here from 1879 is also sometimes known as The Call to Arms.

Rodin would build his reputation within Northern Europe in the early days and it was only later that he would become such a famous individual right across the world. The medium of sculpture can tend to translate well into different regions of the world, and soon his fresh approach to this art form would spread into the US and elsewhere. There are no elements of his career within several art institutions in the US and he is known to have influenced a number of sculptors in this country who followed on afterwards.

Head to the Portland Art Museum to see this sculpture in person. It is relatively large, measuring 110 cm × 58 cm × 41 cm (44 in × 23 in × 16 in). It can be found specifically within the Evan H. Roberts Memorial Sculpture Collection which is one of the main draws of this impressive art institution. Visitors to this venue will also have plenty other items to enjoy as well, with its breadth of work just as impressive as the quality of some of his biggest highlights. For example, you will also be able to view the likes of Brâncuși's A Muse as well as paintings by Picasso, Matisse and André Derain. In terms of more traditional art, there are paintings from Albert Bierstadt, which offers local interest and also fellow American, George Inness.