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Social Sharing
Hanako
ca. 1907
Nicknamed Hanako (“Little Flower”), the Japanese dancer
Ohta Hisa performed at the 1906 Colonial Exhibition in
Marseilles, where Rodin first saw her. The rapturous reception that greeted her performances reflected a phenomenon
called Japonisme: the widespread taste for a version of
Japanese culture commodified to appeal to non-Japanese
audiences. Rodin invited Hanako to pose for him over many
intense sessions, resulting in dozens of portraits. Here, he
emphasized the dancer’s furrowed brow and open mouth,
evoking the pain of long and difficult sittings.
- Artist
- Auguste Rodin
- Title
- Hanako
- Date
- ca. 1907
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Medium
- Gilded bronze
- Dimensions
- 6 1/2 x 4 7/8 x 5 1/2 in. (16.5 x 12.383 x 13.97 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Alma de Bretteville Spreckels
- Accession Number
- 1941.34.7