Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) elucidated the principles of sculpture as having absolute faith in Nature, working relentlessly, and loving the Great Masters of the past, such as Michelangelo and Phidias. The following advice from Rodin portrays him as a humanist and an artist.

Conceive form in depth.

Clearly indicate the dominant planes.

Imagine forms as directed towards you;

all life surges from a centre,

expands from within outwards.

In drawing, observe relief, not outline.

The relief determines the contour.

The main thing is to be moved, to love,

to hope, to tremble, to live.

Be a man before being an artist!

Auguste Rodin

What do you think Rodin meant by "In drawing, observe relief, not outline"?

Did you know that Rodin is thought to have had a different mode of perception which we would describe as a learning disability today? This shows how people with "right-brain" strengths succeed beautifully and make lasting contributions to society.

We wish to extend thanks to Donna Moore for sharing the above poem from Herbert Read's A Concise History of Modern Sculpture (Frederick A. Praeger, Publishers, New York, 1966, pp. 12-14). Rodin's principles may also be found in L'Arte - entretiens réunis par Paul Gsell, Lausanne (Mermod), 1946.