HeinleinAnybody can look at a pretty girl and see a pretty girl. An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl that she used to be. But a great artist — a master — and that is what Auguste Rodin was — can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is… and force the viewer to see the pretty girl she used to be…. and more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo, or even you, see that this lovely young girl is still alive, not old and ugly at all, but simply prisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet, endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older than eighteen in her heart…. no matter what the merciless hours have done to her.
That is an amazing quote. I realize that the quote is bigger than just Rodin, but I was wondering if you know of any Rodin work that would fit this description literally. My understanding is that Rodin was primarily a sculptor and I can't recall any of his works that were of an a youthful woman trapped in an old woman's body. I'm no expert though, I'll go scour the Internet and see what I can find. Wonderful quote though, thank you for sharing.
Oh wow. That is heartbreakingly beautiful. Thank you Brian.