Camille Claudel quotes

Camille Claudel was a French sculptor and graphic artist, known for her expressive and innovative works. Her life and career were marked by both artistic triumphs and personal struggles, particularly in her relationship with Auguste Rodin. She became a posthumous symbol of creative brilliance and the challenges faced by women artists. Here are 27 of her quotes:

There is always something missing that torments me.

Camille Claudel

I am not feeling any better because I cannot stay in bed, having constant cause for walking. They say I leave at night by the window of my tower, hanging from a red umbrella with which I set fire to the forest!

Camille Claudel

I will never forget my beautiful days with you in Shanklin, they are certainly the most pleasant ones of my life. Look, I have tears in my eyes just to think about it. I am furious to be here, it is the end of happiness for a whole year.

Camille Claudel

I thank you for your kind invitation to introduce me to the president of the Republic. Since I have not been out of my atelier for two months, I have no appropriate costume for this circumstance. Please excuse me.

Camille Claudel

I am scared; I don't know what is going to happen to me. What was the point of working so hard and of being talented, to be rewarded like this? Never a penny, tormented all my life. It is horrible; one cannot imagine it.

Camille Claudel

If you are nice, and keep your promise, we will be in paradise.

Camille Claudel

My countrymen have commissioned a bust of the Republic. It will be placed on the fountain of my native town.

Camille Claudel

It is in fact agreed that I am the plague, the cholera of the benevolent and generous men who are interested in art and that, when I show myself with my plasters, even the Emperor of the Sahara would flee.

Camille Claudel

I would prefer to have a more appealing job. If I could still change careers, I would prefer it. This unfortunate art is made for long beards and ugly faces rather than for a relatively well-endowed woman.

Camille Claudel

You know what black hatred women feel toward me as soon as they see me, until I return inside my shell, they use every possible weapon. As soon as a generous man tries to help me out, a woman is here to hold his arm and prevent him from acting.

Camille Claudel

Send me one hundred francs on our future deals, otherwise I will disappear in a cataclysm.

Camille Claudel

Sir Rodin convinced my parents to have me committed; they are all in Paris to arrange it.

Camille Claudel

I would have preferred to be successful here with a piece that cost me a huge amount of money and effort... rather than sending to Bohemia some ordinary works.

Camille Claudel

I have all sorts of problems and feel discouraged.

Camille Claudel

I have had the problem of seeing my male model go to Italy and... stay there.

Camille Claudel

When you left on Saturday, I felt a horrible void, I saw you everywhere, on the beach, in your room, in the garden: impossible for me to get used to the idea that you had left.

Camille Claudel

You find me at work; excuse the dust on my blouse. I sculpt my marble myself.

Camille Claudel

Don't fear anything for your letters, they are burnt one by one and I hope you do the same with mine.

Camille Claudel

I took all my wax studies and threw them in the fire... that's the way it is when something unpleasant happens to me. I take my hammer and I squash a figure.

Camille Claudel

I don't want to say anything because I know I am unable to protect you from the harm that I see.

Camille Claudel

I tolerate my faults but not at all other people's.

Camille Claudel

Last night, two men tried to force my shutters. I recognized them: they are two of Rodin's Italian models. He told them to kill me. I am in his way; he wants to get rid of me.

Camille Claudel