Hands Almost Touching
Hands almost touching . . . but they never touch,
Clay and bronze forever . . . forever revealing such.
Can a relationship be revealed . . . in a piece so fine?
Its message and its treasure . . . forever yours and mine.
© Forrest W. Heaton September 2023
This is an experiment. We have not previously attempted to write a blog post on a personal relationship. But we’ve decided to try. One reason is that relationships often are central to major events affecting people and planet. Second, it is often relationships that provide the richness of life we all enjoy. Lying in bed thinking of this particular relationship, we got up at 3:00am 17Sep23 to write the poem and opening paragraphs. We’ll see later how this post turns out.
For our 10th Anniversary trip, Mary & I traveled to Paris Oct/Nov 2010 to study some of their treasures, one of which were the masterpieces of Rodin. We took a hotel nearby the Rodin museum, formerly a small hotel with some pieces displayed outside. We spent a few days studying Rodin and his works. In the process, we also began learning about Camille Claudel, a sculptor in her own right with whom we were unfortunately unfamiliar. It turns out Claudel was his student. Many consider Claudel to have been Rodin’s inspiration. Many feel Claudel’s work superior to Rodin’s. We shall see how you interpret the story as we progress.
Auguste Rodin, 12Nov1840-17Nov1917, born and lived in Paris, became one of the world’s most famous sculptors. When pronouncing his name, change the spelling of his last name to Rodan, and then pronounce the “an” as the word “an,” making sure to swallow the “n.”
Camille Claudel, 8Dec1864-19Oct1943, was born in northern France and moved to Paris around 1881. When they met, Claudel was 19 and Rodin was 42. Claudel was recognized for her sculpting talent and her beauty. In addition to strongly influencing Rodin’s work, she became Rodin’s muse. Their relationship lasted from 1883 until 1892. After their separation, they developed a rivalry, followed by Claudel, feeling alienated, becoming a recluse. She was committed by her family to a mental asylum and then a psychiatric hospital where she remained for 29 years until her death.
Rather than wait until the end of this post to display a photograph, we’re going to put one here. It is Claudel’s sculpture “Mature.” The bronze piece is 45” x 64” x 28” and weighs 770 lb. Look at the hands, reaching out for each other. But, at the same time, the man is turning away . . . while she is imploring.
THIS . . . is the story . . . behind a masterpiece!
After our visit, Mary returned to the museum to purchase the book “Camille Claudel & Rodin, Time Will Heal Everything’” by Antoinette Le Normand-Romain. The book has been so helpful in recalling events researched thirteen years ago.
One needs to take time with this kind of research. Surprises abound. It was not one piece but many that caught our attention, not to mention catching Claudel’s attention for ten years. Many bronze sculptures by both await your attention. Drawings of Claudel by Rodin, plaster casts by both, letters between the two are of interest. The language is passionate, uncompromising. And back to the sculpture, Rodin’s The Eternal Idol, reveals Rodin’s passion as much as “Mature” reveals Claudel’s. Sculpted in 1889, redone in bronze in 1891, revised in marble in 1893, this is 11” high of sheer beauty. Regardless of your prior knowledge of this relationship, spending time among these various kinds of art is a marvelous visit.
Thank you, dear readers, for joining us on this thirteen-year old (and yet brightly new) trip. We appreciate you!