Lot Essay
Drawings from Rodin's late period (after 1900) often possess an expressive simplicity and an economy of means that give small indication of the complex and sophisticated manner in which they are executed. In some instances the artist drew while keeping his eye on the model alone, ignoring the sheet, thus yielding a continuous and energetic line that he may alter or rework, but will still retain the effect of spontaneous motion. On other occasions Rodin would rework earlier drawings by tracing, thereby distilling the essence of a pose and eliminating all extraneous line or pentimenti. Finally, Rodin would also draw in a more traditional manner, his eye moving back and forth between the model and his sheet, refining his contours and modeling his forms by means of shading, stomping or hatching. The goal, whatever the means, was to arrive at the beauty and essence of human form as it is revealed in the limitless possibilities of movement.