Isadora Duncan at Vélizy

A pioneer of modern contemporary dance, the American Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) caused a scandal with the freedom of her dance, performing without a tutu or pointe shoes, dressed simply in a light tunic and barefoot. She loved to dance outdoors, in empathy with nature, and advocated freedom of movement and of the body. Here she can be seen freely improvising dance steps on a flower bed at the dinner given in Rodin's honour in Vélizy on 30 June 1903. It was on this occasion that Bourdelle met her for the first time. She went on to become one of his muses, inspiring a number of drawings and sculptures, including the bas-reliefs for the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris.

Stéphanie Cantarutti / Chloë Théault