Le Penseur

"The Thinker",Columbia University/"The Thinker",Paris, France/"The Thinker", The Cleveland Museum of Art

Originally, the 'Thinker' - also named 'The Poet' - was to represent Dante Alighieri, the author of the Divina Commedia, symbolizing the intellectual power that created the dramatic world depicted in the 'Gates':

"In front of this Porte [Rodin explained to a journalist at the turn of the century], but on a rock, Dante was to be seated in profound meditation, conceiving the plan of his poem. Behind him, there was Ugolino, Francesca, Paolo, all the characters of the Divine Comedy. But something came of this idea. Gaunt, ascetic in his straight robe, my Dante, seperated from the ensemble, would have had no meaning. Still inspired by my original idea, I conceived of another Thinker, a naked man crouched on a rock against which his feet are contracted. Fist pressed against his teeth, he sits lost in contemplation. His fertile thoughts slowly unfalled in his imagination. He is not a dreamer; he is a creator."

[Marcelle Adam, Le Penseur, in: Gil Blas, Paris, 7 July 1904, quoted by Grunfeld, chapter 8, p. 191]

This way, the 'Thinker' was detached from his personal connection with Dante and now is seen to represent the power of thought and mental creativity more generally.

(via here)