Mrs. Russell (Mariana Mattioco della Torre) 1888 - 1979

Editor: This is Auguste Rodin's bronze bust of Mrs. Russell, also known as Mariana Mattioco della Torre, sculpted around 1888-1979. I’m immediately struck by the contemplative mood. It feels both classic and deeply personal. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes. The portrait, forever attempting to capture not just likeness, but essence. Think of bronze itself, chosen by Rodin, as more than mere material. It carries weight – the weight of history, of tradition, evoking classical sculpture. How does that weight affect our understanding of the sitter, of Mrs. Russell? Editor: It makes her seem more…timeless, somehow. But her gaze feels so individual, almost vulnerable. Curator: Exactly. Rodin isn’t simply replicating a face, he’s evoking inner states. What symbolic language can we draw out here? Bronze withstands the elements and carries cultural value. Look at the positioning of the head; what direction does it point and what does it say to you? Editor: She's looking slightly downwards, and to the side, almost in contemplation. Maybe Rodin’s suggesting an internal thoughtfulness that surpasses external appearances? Curator: Precisely. He uses this timeless medium to capture a unique spirit in a specific moment, which contrasts beautifully and enhances the individual details of the sculpture. The choice, then, becomes powerfully poignant. Editor: So, he's using a traditional medium to make a statement about individuality? Curator: Indeed. And consider how those seemingly disparate elements combine to forge meaning, sparking echoes through time. Art becomes a language. Editor: I hadn’t thought about bronze as being such a powerful symbol itself! Thanks! Curator: It is these subtle things that give an artwork resonance.