Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) originally conceived of The Thinker as representing Dante in his larger work The Gates of Hell. Later designed as an independent sculpture, The Thinker symbolizes the internal struggle of the creative mind. The Detroit Institute of Arts displays one of the twenty bronzes cast from the 1902 original.
The statue is composed of a high-density stone with a catalyst. Centuries old casting techniques still apply. Artisans apply the patina in a labor intensive process that requires several layers and specialized shading which are all done by hand.
Dimensions: 5 ¼ inches square base and an overall height of 11 ½ inches.
