L’Age Mûr : Camille Claudel

I realized that there were few expressions of our female crushes, maybe because the awe is different, instead of just devotion there is sometimes more connection and self reflection with women. So I present Camille Claudel (in a fashion similar to Brian Doyle's proclamation on William Blake), but Camille who tragically most people in the world only know as Rodin's mistress. Is she my crush or my alter ego?

Perhaps it is because of her defiant gaze and upswept tossled hair that stood against art critics, lovers, and family who were baffled at the idea of a female sculptor. Because she was Rodin's equal and even her best work happened after their relationship ended. Because the famous art critic Octave Mirbeau wrote she was "A revolt against nature: a woman genius". Because of the insufferability of living in a time when it was a revolt for a woman to be a genius. But maybe Camille Claudel haunts me because of the honest arms outstretched to her former lover leaving her for a harpie. Because when she first released "L'Age Mur" or "The Age of Maturity" Rodin was horrified because the fingers of the man and the implorer touched and furiously demanded the separation of them. Because in the her work she achieved a level of expression that had rarely appeared in sculpture before and does not have to hide behind appealing model poses. Because for 30 years her family kept her in a mental institution even though the hospital said she didn't need to be there. Because it has been said she was unstable, and yet she still had an old wise soul beneath her as can be seen in her work "The Prayer". "Because in women courage is often mistaken for insanity." Because Camille Claudel haunts me as the internalized pain of insulted and abandoned passion. Because her stare is one of necessity.