Rodin as everyone knows was a terrific sculptor. His figures seem to have a very sensitive touch. His rebellion shows well in the often mutilated figures and where a hand or an arm is simply left uncarved. In his essay, Rodin and Sexual Domination, John Berger, does beautiful job giving an inner look at Rodin where he refers to Rodin’s relationship with his subjects:

“Rodin’s success with woman appears to have become when he first behan to become successful as Sculptor (aged about 40). It was then that his whole bearing - and his fame - offered a promise that Isadora Duncan describe so well because she describes it obliquely. His promise to woman is that he will mould them: they will become clay in his hands. Their relation to him will become symbolically comparable to that of his sculpture.”

Times are much different now. We have perhaps learnt to respect each other’s dignity more. And hardly any artist will ever refer to his models like this. Nevertheless, it is interesting to know how this was different.

 

 

 

Thank you Marcel for your amazing course! You come across such a genuine helpful person I would love to know on first name basis. Keep up the good work! Cheers man!