The Idea Of Love In Auguste Rodin's The Kiss And Robert Indiana's Love

Sculptures are capable of holding deep meaning. They use visual representation to convey a specific message. Two different sculptures can portray the same idea, but still be unlike one another. The two sculptures, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin and the sculpture Love by Robert Indiana express a similar idea of love but in a different fashion.

These two sculptures are both alike and different, but it is how the critic looks at the aspects of both works. The Kiss created by Auguste Rodin in 1882, is more explicit and aged. The original sculpture was made out of marble and accredited for an art museum located in Paris. The sculpture depicts two naked people together on a rock seemingly intimately (Sooke). Love is interpreted as enthusiastic and exciting, however, the sculpture’s story does not portray such a thing. In reality, the meaning behind the sculpture is rather chilling. The two characters displayed are Paolo and Francesca, who are about to exchange their first kiss. Francesca has an affair with her husband’s brother, when they are found together by her husband, he kills both Francesca and Paolo before they can complete the kiss. After being adulterous, they are “condemned to wander eternally through Hell” (The Kiss). As Francesca cheats on her husband, she is sentenced to walk through Hell as she committed a sin. This sculpture is intimate, they are in love, experiencing it on a personal level. “This monumental marble sculpture of two naked lovers fused in passion” (Sooke). The smooth and simple bodies while they lay atop a rough surfaced rock hold great contrast (Sooke). The book that also lay next to them as Paolo’s hand rests on, is the story of Lancelot and Guinevere. The story they read together caused their passion as lovers to increase (Tate). They connected together through the readings of this book which is about the love story between a knight and a princess. With the definition of love clearly visible and obvious, the intimacy between two people in love is exhibited by the actions of two people.

The Kiss sculpture displays a more romantic setting; other sculptures could portray the same idea, but differently. The Love sculpture created by Robert Indiana in 1970, is bright and displays a pop art effect. This sculpture is characterized by big letters that spell the word “LOVE.” This event portrays a similar idea of the other sculpture but in a different method. The Love sculpture is more of a visual way to represent love, instead of an emotional way. “Though aesthetically simple and straightforward, the love series actually boasts unexpected undertones” (Shovava). The sculptures history of design and style can be followed as far as six years ago when the Museum of Modern Art in New York City prompted Robert Indiana to create a Christmas card design, which was Indiana’s initial plan (Shovava).

When Robert Indiana created this piece, he was inspired by religion, with inspiration from his religious roots to create ‘Love is God’. As Robert Indiana stated himself, “although the Love is God canvas bears no relationship to what now has become a logo, it started me thinking about the subject of love” (15 Thing You Should). This supports the claim that you can create something with your own inspirations, but everyone has a different definition of love and will interpret it in unique ways depending on their personal beliefs. Because of this, Robert Indiana’s prime idea for this sculpture was not what is interpreted today.

These two sculptures portray the same idea of love and lust, but in different processes along with their own stories. Statues of art represent love and affection along with romance and intimacy. The Kiss sculpture created by Auguste Rodin is a more romantic way of showing love because it contains more affection on an intimate level. The Love sculpture is not as romantic and does not express any physical touch. With this, The Kiss conveys the idea of love more effectively, holding a deeper meaning. As people think of love in their own personal opinion, many think love is between two people. In Robert Indiana’s case, he believes love is defined as God.

The beauty of physical and visual art is that there is an unlimited number of matter people can personally interpret from them. It is amazing how two totally different sculptures could express the same idea with the use of imagination and creativity. The Kiss holds deeper meaning whereas the contrasting sculpture, Love relies on imagination. Two people living a romantic life and sharing an intimate moment which most people would define as love. The Love sculpture is more straightforward and obvious but it holds more opportunity for vast imagination, more feelings and opinions of personal definition of love.

While all people will or do experience love, everyone’s definition of it is dissimilar. Peoples idea of love today may be different then it was 50 to 100 years ago. Although the sculptures are obviously different, the deep semantics are the same with the use of vision and personal rendering. These two sculptures hold great potential in the world lived in today. With vast cultures, beliefs, and ethics, this world is always changing. The beauty of art is in the eye of the beholder. As responsible to find the beauty in everything. The patron is in control of what he or she extracts from pieces of art. These two sculptures were made in different time periods, as the world rapidly changes, so do minds and morals. Copies of the Love sculpture is publicly witnessed more frequently where it is located in big cities along busy streets such as Phoenix or Philadelphia. Places outside of the country have their own version of the sculpture, such as Sinagpore and Taipei. In some sites, “LOVE” is written in different languages for all to see and understand (Shovava). To spread the beauty and simplicity of this sculpture to all cultures and locations. Duplicates of The Kiss are located more in museums such as in Paris. Depending on the location and energy of the population, it shifts the type of interpretation and ideas received. We learn what to appreciate and value. Ethics change and we shift dramatically with different opinions and the environment affects judgement and views. Art is such a beautiful concept, with some quick-witted minds, the human race is capable of creativity beyond belief. With just a little bit of knowledge, you can interpret so much from one sculpture to another. Interpretation can be so effortless with the uniqueness and diversity of population and art.