The Thinker's Body

Alright, Rodin’s Thinker is buff. He’s so jacked and ripped from sprints and deadlifts that it couldn’t leave much time for equations or philosophy. It looks like he spends more time under iron than nose-in-book or pondering choices.

I think this is intentional. This isn’t a sculpture of a brain in a vat. It’s not a bust. It’s not a head. Tilting forward, The Thinker is leaning into contemplation. He’s taught with physical energy and musculature which pumps up from his toes to legs, around his chest and back, to his arms and right hand, his fingers, and into a jaw that’s clenched to support a thunderous brain. The mind doesn’t hover over his brain or body. Rather, his head, chin and hand bear into one another. 

Naming is an artistic flourish which completes a work. Without knowing a title we feel a sense of incompletion or lack of guidance about how to frame the object. We need to glance at the wall label before settling back to review. Hence the “untitled” movement in minimalist art which omitted names was profound for a moment then tiring once the trick was up. Generally we prefer the interaction between title and object. Is that toilet really a Fountain? 

Here Rodin’s title brought fame and global recognition. He clearly got it right. The title also pulls a slight of hand which misdirects us away from the olympic physique. If you viewed the work sans title, sure, you’d say The Thinker is thinking, but you’d linger longer on the sculpted shoulders and winged lats. The man is thinking with his toes for goodness’ sake! This is a brain/mind inside and inseparable from a body.