What do you think?
Rate this book
Auguste Rodin: Drawings & Watercolors
" I have drawn all my life. I began I have never stopped drawing. "―Auguste Rodin From the "black" drawings contemporaneous with the Gates of Hell to his great watercolor nudes, this book reproduces hundreds of Auguste Rodin's most beautiful graphic works held in the collection of the Musée Rodin, a number of which are published here for the first time. The accompanying essays analyze the complex relationships between Rodin's drawings and his sculptures, the problems of attribution, and the role of sensuality in his work.
Rodin's rich graphic oeuvre has until now been a little-known aspect of his art, yet it is crucial to a full understanding of his work. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the great sculptor's achievements. 372 illustrations in color and black-and-white
Rodin's rich graphic oeuvre has until now been a little-known aspect of his art, yet it is crucial to a full understanding of his work. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the great sculptor's achievements. 372 illustrations in color and black-and-white
- GenresArtNonfictionArt History
440 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2006
68 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 10, 2010
As an artist myself, I was fascinated by this monograph on Rodin's two-dimensional work. I'm very familiar with his sculpture and familiar, if not in a happy way, with the way he conducted his personal life. Long drawn to his fluid, sensuous linework, I wanted to know more about his process. This book certainly filled that bill.
Hundreds of Rodin's drawings and watercolors are included here. The quality of the reproductions seems good. Having seen in person so few examples of this part of Rodin's output, I can't be absolutely sure on that point, but the publishers Thames and Hudson are tops in their field.
The text appears in the first 70 pages of the book---it's single-spaced and the type is small. There are many, many references, of course, to the images that comprise most of the book. Reading it becomes a matter of constantly turning from the text page to one or several other pages in the illustrations section. It's a little awkward, but unavoidable in a work of this kind.
In addition to seeing many works I had never seen before, i was fascinated by the description of the way Rodin made his drawings. He never abandoned the sculptor's tactile and plastic approach, even when, as here, he was working on a flat surface.
There were times, however, when I wondered if the authors weren't overanalyzing Rodin's working process. Sometimes a sketch is just a sketch, and not a piece of work worthy of examination and conjecture in the minutest detail.
I highly recommend this book to others interested in Rodin or in drawing in general. I had hoped to see much of this work at the Rodin Museum in Paris, since the pieces included in the book come from that collection, but I found that none of the drawings or watercolors were on exhibit the last time I was there.
Hundreds of Rodin's drawings and watercolors are included here. The quality of the reproductions seems good. Having seen in person so few examples of this part of Rodin's output, I can't be absolutely sure on that point, but the publishers Thames and Hudson are tops in their field.
The text appears in the first 70 pages of the book---it's single-spaced and the type is small. There are many, many references, of course, to the images that comprise most of the book. Reading it becomes a matter of constantly turning from the text page to one or several other pages in the illustrations section. It's a little awkward, but unavoidable in a work of this kind.
In addition to seeing many works I had never seen before, i was fascinated by the description of the way Rodin made his drawings. He never abandoned the sculptor's tactile and plastic approach, even when, as here, he was working on a flat surface.
There were times, however, when I wondered if the authors weren't overanalyzing Rodin's working process. Sometimes a sketch is just a sketch, and not a piece of work worthy of examination and conjecture in the minutest detail.
I highly recommend this book to others interested in Rodin or in drawing in general. I had hoped to see much of this work at the Rodin Museum in Paris, since the pieces included in the book come from that collection, but I found that none of the drawings or watercolors were on exhibit the last time I was there.
October 21, 2009
Schitterend uitgegeven boek waarin de tekeningen/aquarellen/gouaches van de geniale Rodin verzameld zijn. Steeds binnen handbereik, blijf ik er in bladeren, wat een eindeloze bron van inspiratie, ontroering, genot,...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews