The Prodigal Son
Artist / maker
George Minne (sculptors)Date
1896Period
19th centuryCollection
Museum of Fine Arts Ghent
In October 1895, George Minne left Ghent and settled in Brussels. As a sculptor, he underwent an important evolution there. In the first year that Minne was active there, he made expressive sculptures that express strong emotions, such as The Prodigal Son. The artist depicts the almost unbearable moment of reconciliation in a fierce embrace. By doing so, Minne adds…
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In October 1895, George Minne left Ghent and settled in Brussels. As a sculptor, he underwent an important evolution there. In the first year that Minne was active there, he made expressive sculptures that express strong emotions, such as The Prodigal Son. The artist depicts the almost unbearable moment of reconciliation in a fierce embrace. By doing so, Minne adds a new dimension to the theme of the prodigal son, which was quite popular at the time. The bold line and modelling in Minne's sculpture is indeed related to the working method of Auguste Rodin, but with its extraordinary expressiveness, the distortions in the bodies and the intense expression of emotions, The Prodigal Son also heralded expressionism.
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