The Impressionists art period is characterized by its depiction of modern life and the natural beauty of nature it depicted. One especially creative artist of this time is Auguste Rodin. Rodin was an impressionist, French artist that was popular in the late 1800s. His most famous work was “The Gates of Hell” and the many pieces which came about from this work (auguste-rodin.com). One I would like to examine, is his work “The Kiss” sculpted in 1882. One particular characteristic that is quite prevalent in this piece of work is how the figures are “all in violent action…taken straight from nature” (Symons). When you look at this sculpture, the feelings you feel are so immense, and their passion for one another is so great that the only way to describe it is as violent. And I don’t mean violent as in fighting; but their passion for each other, their love is a violent, passionate love. This is what Rodin wanted to seek out in his sculpting. Rodin depending on “the power, balance, and beauty of the relief” he watched and sculpted “the living movement from every angle…he must translate form, movement, light and shadow, softness, force, everything which exists in nature” into his sculptures (Symons). This strongly correlates with Rodin’s examination of the Greeks art. The Greeks were highly focused on beauty and perfection of the human form. Rodin focused on capturing and perfecting the nature in his forms; creating as much beauty and emotion as possible. Rodin was a true Impressionist sculptor.
Up close of The Kiss
The Kiss
Another work, Fugit Amor
Landow, G. Kenneth Clark on Naked, Nude, and Ideal Form. Accessed October 16, 2012.
Auguste Rodin. http://www.auguste-rodin.com Accessed October 16, 2012.
Sculpture: Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (1882).
