The Man with a Broken Nose
by RODIN, Auguste, Bronze, height 60 cm
Far from hindering Rodin from creating a striking artistic image, imperfection and asymmetry here make up its very foundation. The sculpture represents the face of a tramp known as Bibi. The sculptor was struck by his appearance and invited him to work as a model.
Later the hair redone in the manner of Greek philosophers, and the work was carved in marble and assumed the air of a Socrates with the impact of an antique bust. Its exhibition at the Salon of 1875 constituted Rodin’s first real victory.