How did Auguste Rodin use fragments such as torsos in his art?

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Portrait of Auguste Rodin standing indoors, wearing a buttoned, two-toned coat with a full beard and tousled hair, looking slightly to the side. — Auguste Rodin French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

Auguste Rodin revolutionized sculptural composition by incorporating fragments, such as broken torsos, into his body of work. By utilizing these partial figures, he moved away from traditional reliance on complete, solid masses as the primary vehicle for sculptural expression.1

Instead, these methods allowed Rodin to "explosively open" the mass of his sculptures, creating works that were no longer defined solely by the interplay of solid and void. By focusing on these fragments, he fused his figures with the surrounding space, significantly enlarging the range of figure composition and emphasizing the expressive, emotive potential of the human form over literal representation. This approach was part of his broader rejection of academic standards, favoring a style that remained in a state of "becoming" rather than seeking a definitive, polished finish.1