Cupid and Psyche 1793 - 1893

This sculpture, Cupid and Psyche, was made by Auguste Rodin in the late 19th or early 20th century, using marble. Look at the contrast between the roughly hewn base and the polished figures, how the stone retains a sense of its original, quarried state, a direct connection to the earth, while above it the figures are delicately wrought. Rodin has clearly engaged with the history of sculpture and the Western canon, but he does so in a way that embraces the inherent qualities of the material. Marble has a long association with classical art, yet Rodin's treatment is distinctive. His approach is also deeply connected to the labor involved, the physical act of carving, and the skill required to bring form out of a solid block. We get the feeling that Rodin wanted the viewer to be aware of both the mythological scene and the sheer work involved. Ultimately, Rodin forces us to consider the artistic process itself, challenging the traditional separation between fine art and craft.