Whilst in Paris a couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to take part in something that I wouldn’t normally do… a friend of the artistic persuasion invited me along to an exhibition by the famous sculptor Auguste Rodin – he of the famous works including, The Thinker, The kiss and The Walking Man. But on this occasion the exhibition was dedicated to his other passion of drawing… indeed there was 300 drawings on show at the Musée Rodin. This collection is called: Capturing the model: 300 Rodin drawings 1890 – 1917.
Now I am most definitely not un connaisseur de art in its purest forms but I would consider myself artistic. And having witnessed Rodin’s work I was immediately drawn to the centralised theme of his drawings. These were essentially sketches in graphite pencil often imbued with watercolour, bringing the images to life off of the canvas. The drawings were predominantly that of the femme nue variety set in a number of suggestive poses – sitting, squatting, laying down etc.
Simple, erotic and beautiful but somewhat repetitive! This assertion is not a criticism but merely an observation of this man’s joy in repetition… and we can all get a little obsessed from time to time with the female form… even me.
Go see the exhibition for yourself if you can. It’s open until April 1st 2012 (which coincidently is April Fools day!)
Rodin Museum
rue de Varenne
75007, Paris
Phone : 01 44 18 61 10
Fax : 01 44 18 61 30
A selection of drawings – click to enlarge.
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- FEMME NUE ASSISE, UN PIED POSÉ DE HAUT SUR UN GENOU ; FEMME NUE DEBOUT SANS TÊTE
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- FEMME NUE ASSISE, DE FACE, LES MAINS DERRIÈRE LA TÊTE
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- FEMME NUE AUX LONGS CHEVEUX, RENVERSÉE EN ARRIÈRE
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- FEMALE NUDE WITH LEFT LEG OUTSTRETCHED
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- FEMME ACCROUPIE VUE DE DOS, UN VÊTEMENT SUR LES ÉPAULES
Now listen to this…
Joy, obsession and repetition: The pursuit of artistic pleasures…
All That Glitters Ain't Gold 