In six pages these 2 famous sculptures by Rodin are analyzed in terms of artistic innovations, construction, content, and theme. Four sources are cited in the bibliography.
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minds to portray them. This statement would definitely apply to the life and works of Auguste Rodin. Good representations of his work and his interpretation of a myriad of themes
are evident in his two sculptures entitled, The Kiss and The Burghers of Calais. Considered a realist, Rodin made quite the sensation during his day and time. Realists sought to
portray or sculpt their work as realistically as possible, even though there may be symbolic meaning in their poses, expressions, or in the objects that they interact with. In fact,
Rodin was once accused of being so realistic that there was an outcry over his first exhibit called, The Bronze Age. Apparently, the detail was just too fine and many
accused him of making a live cast. This was proven to be a false claim and instead he was given a studio in Paris and grants from the government to
continue his work(Varnedoe, 1994). What seems to set Rodin aside from the other realists is that he not only gets thing in adequate proportions, but manages to convey a sense
of movement, as if one only need stand still long enough watching his sculptures to see one of them breath. He achieved this aim by joining his profound knowledge of
anatomy and movement with special attention to the bodys surfaces, saying, "The sculptor must learn to reproduce the surface, which means all that vibrates on the surface, soul, love, passion,
life...Sculpture is thus the art of hollows and mounds, not of smoothness, or even polished planes"(Rodins Original Sculpture, 2002). Therefore, it can be stated that Rodin saw sculpture not as
the smoothness of polished planes, but the angles, hollows, mounds, and odd shapes the true human body manifests itself as. This is quite apparent in both his sculptures, The Kiss