The Thinker is a sculpture by Auguste Rodin, created between 1880 and 1882. The sculpture depicts a man in thoughtful pose, but with an expression of great strain, as though he is about to move or break free from his position. The work is often seen as a symbol of philosophy or intellectual contemplation.
The Thinker has been cast in multiple versions and is today found in numerous museums and private collections worldwide. Rodin first conceived the work in 1880, but it was not until 1902 that a cast of the sculpture was placed on permanent public display, at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. The original plaster version of The Thinker is also on display there, and other casts are located in the Musée Rodin in Paris and elsewhere.
The Thinker was originally conceived as part of a larger work, The Gates of Hell, which Rodin worked on for many years but never completed. The sculpture represents the central figure of The Thinker’s intellectual contemplation.
The first version of The Thinker was created in 1880, but it was not cast in bronze until 1902. The original plaster version is on display at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. Other casts are located in the Musée Rodin in Paris and elsewhere.
The Thinker has been the subject of numerous interpretations. Some view it as a symbol of philosophy or intellectual contemplation, while others see it as a representation of the human condition.
The Thinker has been used as a symbol by various political and social movements, and has also been appropriated by popular culture. The sculpture has been featured in films, television shows, and video games, and has been referenced in works of literature.
