^#539 ^Lot 566 Camille Claudel

French sculptor and graphic artist (1864–1943). ALS in French, two pages, 5.25 x 6.75, no date. Letter to art critic and author Gustave Geffroy. In full (translated): “I take the liberty of reminding you that if you want to give us the pleasure of accepting to dine with us next Tuesday at 7:30 PM in my little studio we will reserve a place for you between Tete D’Or and LaValse. Please excuse my boldness and accept the expression of my sincere friendship.” Uniform toning, a horizontal fold directly under signature, and a few light wrinkles, otherwise fine condition.

As a prominent female artist, Claudel was a revolutionary in her time. She was Auguste Rodin’s muse, lover, and student, and her prodigious talent influenced his work as much as he influenced her own. Gustave Geffroy, the art critic to whom this letter is addressed, was a friend of Rodin, commended Claudel’s work in 1893, in particular her sculpture La Valse, and the cordial tone of this invitation indicates that the dinner may have been to thank him. Claudel would have considerable success into the early twentieth century, but she would spent the last thirty years of her life in an insane asylum. Today, she is the only female sculptor featured in the Musee d’Orsay. A telling letter characterizing a gifted and courageous artist.