Art statues and their historical significance

TWO VERSIONS OF RODIN'S THE KISS

In both of these versions, one in marble and the other in bronze, reflect Rodin's mastery of dramatic gesture, especially through the placement of the hands of the male figure, one lying gently against the foundation stone behind the woman and the other tenderly caressing her hip. Of course, the figures are nude and the kiss itself symbolizes the joining of two human beings in sexual pleasure and intimacy. Intended to be only one of a number of groups composing the never-finished Gates of Hell series, Rodin's marble representation of The Kiss (1886-1898, over life- size) the figures of the two tightly- embraced lovers have been modeled to a smoothness that suggests the supple and soft surfaces and texture of living flesh. This is most evident in the smoothness of the legs, the arms and the torsos of the two lovers. One can also see the rippling of the flesh as if it was real human tissue. As to the other version of The Kiss, the content is made quite different through the use of bronze instead of marble. First of all, upon closer inspection, one can see the patina, a greenish, oxidized layer that accumulates on bronze and copper over long periods of time, which gives the piece a sense of great age; secondly, the darkness of the bronze provides a feeling of superiority and grandeur far more than the marble version. The features on the bronze version do not seem to be carved but suggest indefinite surfaces which alter significantly through the effects of light and shadow; the flesh itself appears to be blurred and smudged and the contours of the arms, legs and torsos almost appear to melt away like wax. Overall, the marble version expresses a feeling of calmness and subtlety, while the bronze version expresses a feeling of power and dominance, an almost overwhelming Expressionistic effect so prevalent in Rodin's other masterpieces.