The Burghers of Calais (by Auguste Rodin)

"The Burghers of Calais" by Auguste Rodin is a bronze sculpture depicting six townspeople sacrificing themselves during the Hundred Years’ War to save Calais. Each figure displays a blend of inner anguish and resolve, capturing their emotional struggle. Rodin emphasizes raw human vulnerability and dignity through realistic expressions and postures. The work explores themes of sacrifice, heroism, and collective endurance, inviting viewers to contemplate the personal cost of civic bravery. Its powerful, textured form and intimate scale make it a profound meditation on the human condition in moments of moral crisis.