A moment in time: The Thinker

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) was a French sculptor whose name is well known in China. He is generally seen as a pioneer of modern sculpture, and his work is regarded by some as the peak of French art. Rodin's The Thinker is among the world's most recognized pieces of sculpture, and his book Rodin on Art and Artists has inspired generations of Chinese artists. The Thinker has been put on display in China a number of times. In the picture above, staff members at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing prepare the work for display in 1993. In the picture on the right, visitors pose with The Thinker at the National Museum of China during the Rodin, L'Oeuvre D'une Vie exhibition in November. The exhibition, which continues until March 22, features 140 of the master's works, including The Age of Bronze, Monument to Balzac and The Gates of Hell.