Young girl 1868

Editor: Here we have Rodin's "Young Girl" from 1868, a rather captivating sculpture made from terracotta. I am immediately drawn to the roses adorning her hair, there is a gentle naivete to her gaze that I find quite beautiful. How do you interpret this work within the broader context of Rodin’s artistic development and 19th-century society? Curator: The social and artistic context is everything, isn't it? Rodin, in the latter half of the 19th century, was grappling with the academic expectations of beauty. While this bust showcases elements of realism—evident in the delicate rendering of the girl's features—it’s also crucial to remember that Rodin consistently challenged the status quo. Consider how traditional portraiture typically portrayed women of the upper classes. Does this feel like that kind of depiction to you? Editor: Not entirely, there's an unrefined quality to the piece and a simplicity to the figure, perhaps intentionally opposing the more extravagant or idealized depictions of the era. Curator: Precisely! It also challenges notions of the ideal feminine beauty of the era and how this young woman should have been represented. So how do you suppose exhibiting such works may have tested or contributed to shifting standards around acceptable displays of youth and beauty in art at the time? Editor: It must have broadened representation and exposed society to differing beauty standards, possibly humanising the genre? That said, are there potential arguments that question this assessment? Curator: A point of view may challenge that by considering if such work unintentionally, although it might not seem apparent, ended up reiforcing underlying social inequalities? We ought to always be critical about art's function within such dynamics. Overall, I find this specific work from Rodin remarkable as an interesting point in a pivotal shift in artistic and public reception. Editor: Thanks, that was insightful. It really has altered my understanding and provided additional angles that I may have initially missed.