Studio: international art (20.1900)

The Rodin Exhibition

dreams, his ambitions,
his hopes, his fancies,
even his sorrows and his
despairings; for here it
all is interpreted in fullest
expression. This art is
essentially—one feels it
immediately—the art of
action ; this sculpture is
no mere symbolism, no
mere materialisation of
allegories. One single
purpose dominates all—
the glorification of
Nature, as seen in the
palpitating beauty of the
human form, under the
influence of those emo-
tions which best serve to
dignify and to exalt it.
Thus the titles figuring
in the catalogue are for
the most part simply the
indispensableconcessions
to the necessity of dis-
tinguishing one work
from another. What-
ever be the designation,
whether Niobe, Le Genie
du Hepos e tern el, Eve,
H Homme qui s'eveille,
L'dge (Tairain, Saint
Gerdme or Alceste,
whether La Sphynge, or
Le Printemps or Frere

«LAPARQUEETLACONVALESCENTE» BY A. RODIN «tf .W, the same Senti-

ment, the same love

artist himself; while as for those who know his of life and humanity, quivers in each and

work but ill, or without knowing it venture to all of these figures. Among all these hundred

criticise or condemn, here is a splendid oppor- and fifty pieces of sculpture of diverse im-

tunity for them to justify the faith that is in portance, there is not one but is animated by

them. So far as the great majority is concerned— the warm breath of vitality. Nothing could be

those who know nothing of Rodin, for the excel- more striking, nothing more beautiful. One is

lent reason that they have never had the chance carried away, as it were, in a whirlwind of

of seeing a really adequate display of his produc- passionate gestures. The emotion produced is

tions—the occasion now offers for so doing, and almost too great, for it is painful—delightfully

all who desire may satisfy their curiosity, and see painful—in its intensity. One is obliged to pause

for themselves whether the enthusiasm or the awhile to recover oneself; then, when the senses

depreciation, which for years past the great sculptor are calmed once more, it is possible for the mind

has evoked, is the juster reward for all his effort. to attempt some sort of estimate of the actual

Here, in these bright, well-lighted galleries, decked artistic worth of the work around one.

with straw-coloured hangings, we may see all the From the mask of the Homme an nez casse (1864)

thought, all the labour of a life of struggle and toil; onward, right down to this Buste de Femme,

may look into the very soul of the man, into his produced quite recently, Rodin's work is marked
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