Rodin according to Rilke: the birth of a modern perspective

Without Rainer Maria Rilke, Auguste Rodin might not be quite the figure posterity knows. A great French sculptor of the late 19th century, master of materials, controversial for his realism, he still lacked a perspective capable of expressing the depth of his work. This perspective was that of the young poet born in Prague, who came to Paris in 1902 to write a monograph commissioned by a German publisher. Rilke knew how to read Rodin like no other: he saw thought in matter, a cry in gesture. The book was published in March 1903. Three years later, Rilke was living in Meudon, in a pavilion lent to him by Rodin. For eleven years, their creative intimacy illuminated each other's art. For the centenary of Rilke's death, the Pierre Gianadda Foundation, in Martigny, is dedicating its summer to this encounter. The Thinker, The Kiss, The Danaid, Detached Hands and other works engage in a dialogue with the poet's words. The epilogue takes place in Valais, where Rilke settled in 1921 at the Muzot castle. A rare exhibition, organized by the Rodin Museum in Paris, which retraces the birth of a vision and the memory of a body of work.

PIERRE GIANADDA FOUNDATION
From June 26 to November 22, 2026
59 Rue du Forum, 1920 Martigny, Switzerland