Final answer:
Auguste Rodin's 'The Burghers of Calais' is pioneering in Impressionist sculpture for its emotional portrayal and ground-level display, which created a personal connection with viewers and departed from classical heroism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Auguste Rodin's The Burghers of Calais is considered a groundbreaking Impressionist sculpture because of its emotional portrayal of the figures and its innovative presentation. Unlike traditional monuments, which often depicted their subjects in a heroic manner and placed them on high pedestals, Rodin's sculpture displayed the burghers at ground level, allowing viewers to engage with them directly. The figures are depicted with expressions of worry and internal struggle, rather than victorious postures, which connect with the viewer on a personal level. This approach signaled a move toward capturing individual character and physicality with intense realism, challenging the established classical norms and leading toward the modern sculptural movement.