Study of a Hand, Auguste Rodin
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Auguste Rodin made artworks that were rooted in the past while also foreshadowing modernity. Rodin reinvented incomplete human features and turned them into whole art masterpieces, influenced by ancient Greek and Roman marbles and Michelangelo. The emotive capabilities of hands captivated Auguste Rodin. The heads, limbs, hands, torsos, and feet were each meticulously modeled individually. In the procedure of casting bronze or sculpting marble, creating a plaster cast was also a technical necessity. Rodin created a number of plaster castings of figures or portions of figures whose positions or modeling he liked. As a result, the ancient collection can be considered a work in progress. It did not merely satisfy an intense urge to own an uncommon object; it was not just a key source of inspiration for Rodin, but it also represented the very content of invention and aesthetic creativity in his vase-and-figure compositions.
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When reproached for only showing “simple parts of the human body”, Rodin defended the expressive force of the partial figure: “Those people,” he said, “didn’t they understand anything about sculpture? About study? Don’t they think that an artist has to apply himself to giving as much expression to a hand or a torso as to a face? And that he is logical and far more of an artist to exhibit an arm rather than a “bust” arbitrarily deprived by tradition of its arms, legs and abdomen? Expression and proportion are the goals. Modelling is the means: it’s through modelling that flesh lives, vibrates, struggles and suffers…” (Musée Rodin). As a result, the ancient collection can be considered a work in progress. It did not merely satisfy an intense urge to own an uncommon object; it was not just a key source of inspiration for Auguste Rodin, but it also represented the very content of invention and aesthetic creativity in his vase-and-figure compositions.
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His piece, "Hand holding the figure of a woman" stood out to me because of the immense detail in the piece. I admired how he utilized another sculpture and combined the two together. From this, I drew inspiration to do a hand holding other mini sculptures. I believe that when the two forms are combined, they can create a stronger meaning and message. Additionally, the texture of the piece was intriguing because of how smooth yet intricate the two components were.
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Hand of Rodin with a Female Figure (Auguste Rodin)
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So, I experimented with different angles to determine what the strongest presentation would be. I wanted my photograph to make it obvious a human hand was depicted, as well as some interesting plants. I tried photos with and without flash to determine what lighting would enhance my piece without obscuring the details.
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