Rodin vs. Picasso
3 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 3/24/2009 11:28:00 AM.
At the Tuileries, almost in front of the entrance to the Orangerie museum where one can find Monet's Nympheas on large display, one of the many large bronze casts of Rodin's 'The Kiss' can be found.
This copy of the sculpture was retrieved from Germany right after the Second World War. It is a part of the MNR program (Musées Nationaux Récupération: works of art secured in Germany after WWII), meaning that the Nazis took it out of a private french collection illegally and after the war ended, the French government secured the sculpture and puts it in its collections for safekeeping for as long as an eventual heir to the proprietor can be found to claim it back.
Funnily enough, a car was parked immediately next to the sculpture. It was a Xara Picasso.
An interesting point of view, since Rodin was the first to create copies of his works in very large numbers without lifting his own fingers (he had a big workshop with lots of experienced people working under his direction, copying them). Picasso then, posthumously became the first artist that got branded with a car manufacturer.
We have certainly come a long way.
Labels: Art, gardens, Paris street stuff (NOT a TOILET)
Very thoughtful post. I enjoy your blog.
Bonjour! Cedric,
Thanks, for the French history lesson...I'am so glad to hear that Rodin's sculpture "The Kiss" has been return to France after WWII.
Yes, being an artist that is true about Rodin's apprentices' and what "irony."
Merci!
Deedee ;-D
I was lucky to visit the Orangerie last year and it is so beautiful. what a wonderful renovation they did!
Now, I wonder - who makes the Picasso car? We do not have that model here.