Octave Mirbeau Portrait

This marble relief depicts Octave Mirbeau, journalist and novelist with whom the artist had a good friendship since the early 1800's. Mirbeau sympathized for the sculpture Rodin, he was even recognized as one of the first critics to defend Rodin's work. Mirbeau had worked as ghost-writer to pay his debts and for this reason too Rodin felt closer to him. The sculptor in fact, was employed by other sculptors who often took credit for his work. The two exchanged numerous letters which are now part of the Rodin Museum in Paris.