For Immediate Release
June 10, 2022

CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS OPENING LECTURE FOR RODIN IN THE UNITED STATES: CONFRONTING THE MODERN

Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Saturday, June 18, in conjunction with the opening of its newest exhibition Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern, the Clark Art Institute hosts a lecture by Antoinette Le Normand-Romain, the exhibition curator and former director general of the National Institute of the History of Art in Paris. The lecture is presented live in the Clark’s auditorium and broadcast simultaneously on Zoom at 11 am.

While there has been much consideration of Auguste Rodin’s reputation in France and throughout Europe, less attention has been paid to his legacy in the United States. Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern features some fifty sculptures and twenty-five drawings, including both familiar masterpieces and lesser-known works of the highest quality. The exhibition tells the story of the collectors, agents, art historians, and critics who endeavored to make Rodin known in America and considers the artist’s influence and reputation in the U.S. from 1893 to the present.

One of the largest Rodin exhibitions in the United States in the last forty years, Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern explores how American collectors have embraced Rodin’s sculptures and drawings over time, assembling collections and often giving them to public institutions to ensure more people could encounter Rodin’s revolutionary art. The highly researched show includes loans of key works by more than thirty museum and private collections from across the country.  

No registration is needed to attend the live event, but registration is required for the Zoom transmission. Registrants will receive an email with a private Zoom link to this live virtual program before the event. For more information and to register, visit clarkart.edu/events.

This exhibition is organized by the Clark Art Institute and guest curated by independent scholar Antoinette Le Normand-Romain.

Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern is made possible by Denise Littlefield Sobel and Diane and Andreas Halvorsen. Major funding is provided by the Acquavella Family Foundation, with additional support from Jeannene Booher, Robert D. Kraus, the Robert Lehman Foundation, Carol and Richard Seltzer, and the Malcolm Hewitt Wiener Foundation. This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance timed tickets are strongly recommended. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303. 

Facemasks are required for individuals age 5 and older who are not fully vaccinated. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.

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