Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) had this famous sculpture placed in front of the Pantheon on April 21, 1906. This was the first work of Rodin to be erected in a public place. Due to the political atmosphere in Europe at that time, the sculpture drew much attention and turned into a socialist symbol. Rodin died in 1917, the year of the October Revolution in Russia, installing the Bolshevik party in the White Palace. Napoleon's dream of clearing Europe of 'aristocracy' and the 'tsars' seemed to come true... Socialism seemed to be the solution to ending poverty, injustice and class stratification... Did it? Time revealed that no matter what the labels are, "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
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