How did Rodin’s style appear in Constantin Brancusi’s first version of Sleeping Muse?

In the first version of the Sleeping Muse (1908), the influence of Auguste Rodin is reflected in the expressiveness of the modeling. In this sculpture of a woman’s face, the features are rendered in a way that suggests an unformed block of marble. This approach aligns with Rodin’s later interests, which prioritized the expressive quality of the modeling over strenuous gesture.12

This work marked the final instance of Rodin’s influence appearing in Brancusi’s art, as the sculptor soon moved toward more simplified, abstract forms.2