Torso of a Woman
By Rodin
The outlines, dashed in with a single stroke, evoked the fire or the abandon of the movements, and his thumb had interpreted by a very slight shade the charm of the modelling. As he studied the drawings he seemed to see again in mind the models who were their originals. He constantly exclaimed:
“Ah! this one’s shoulders, what a delight! A curve of perfect beauty! My drawing is too heavy! I tried indeed, but—! See, here is a second attempt from the same woman. This is more like her. And yet!
“And just look at this one’s throat, the adorable elegance of this swelling line, it has an almost intangible grace!”
“Master,” I asked, “is it easy to find good models?”
“Yes.”
“Then beauty is not very rare in France?”
“No, I tell you.”
“But tell me, do you not think that the beauty of the antique much surpassed that of our day, and that modern women are far from equalling those who posed for Phidias?”
“Not at all.”