The Thinker
Harrisburg Area Community College
“What Makes My Thinker Think…”
Robert Nasuti
Humanities 201: World Mythology
Professor Pappadakis
27 April 2013
Robert Nasuti
Professor Pappadakis
Humanities 201
27 April 2013
“What Makes My Thinker Think…” The processes used to record the myths, stories and events of history come in many different forms. The most common mode of capturing the past is the ever-familiar writings found in the endless pages of written documents and books. More recently, the Internet has become the method of choice in replacing the pen and paper in capturing and recording the incidents of days past. While these techniques are a noble source to document and remember the teachings of yester-year, the best method that will guarantee a spark of interest in both the young and old is the art pieces, statues and sculptures that populate every corner of the world. This recording skill chronicles the past in a visual format that inspires on-lookers to dig deeper into the hidden secrets stored in the paints and other substances used to create the piece of art. In this paper I’ll take you on a journey back to 1880 and we will explore the stories hidden in one of my favorite pieces and probably the most recognized statues in the world, “The Thinker” (fig.1). While it is not my intent to document the life of the artist, this paper would not be complete without a formal introduction of the man behind the creation, Auguste Rodin. Rodin was born on November 12, 1840 in the Rue de l’Arbalète, a poor area of Paris (Cedric). Rodins natural talent in art can be traced back to the age of 14 when he persuaded his father to let him attend the “Petite École”, a prestigious school of art in Paris. While there he learned and practiced skills that primarily related to painting. He studied the traditional techniques of art and he perfected his power of observation and mastered the ability to draw from memory (Cedric). Rodin
“What Makes My Thinker Think…”
Robert Nasuti
Humanities 201: World Mythology
Professor Pappadakis
27 April 2013
Robert Nasuti
Professor Pappadakis
Humanities 201
27 April 2013
“What Makes My Thinker Think…” The processes used to record the myths, stories and events of history come in many different forms. The most common mode of capturing the past is the ever-familiar writings found in the endless pages of written documents and books. More recently, the Internet has become the method of choice in replacing the pen and paper in capturing and recording the incidents of days past. While these techniques are a noble source to document and remember the teachings of yester-year, the best method that will guarantee a spark of interest in both the young and old is the art pieces, statues and sculptures that populate every corner of the world. This recording skill chronicles the past in a visual format that inspires on-lookers to dig deeper into the hidden secrets stored in the paints and other substances used to create the piece of art. In this paper I’ll take you on a journey back to 1880 and we will explore the stories hidden in one of my favorite pieces and probably the most recognized statues in the world, “The Thinker” (fig.1). While it is not my intent to document the life of the artist, this paper would not be complete without a formal introduction of the man behind the creation, Auguste Rodin. Rodin was born on November 12, 1840 in the Rue de l’Arbalète, a poor area of Paris (Cedric). Rodins natural talent in art can be traced back to the age of 14 when he persuaded his father to let him attend the “Petite École”, a prestigious school of art in Paris. While there he learned and practiced skills that primarily related to painting. He studied the traditional techniques of art and he perfected his power of observation and mastered the ability to draw from memory (Cedric). Rodin
Cited: Artble. The Thinker. http://www.artble.com/artists/auguste_rodin/sculpture/the_thinker. 2013. Web. 18 Apr 2013. Columbia College. The Thinker, by Auguste Rodin, 1902. http://www.college.columbia.edu/core/content/thinker-auguste-rodin-1902. n.d. Web. 19 Apr 2013 Cédric Loire Chicago University. Smart Museum of Art. http://smartcollection.uchicago.edu/view/objects/asitem/230/11/title- asc?t:state:flow=dae62d24-54c3-436f-a7c2-bbc7b7c417e1. 2013. Web. 12 Apr 2013. Princeton Dante Project. Biography of Dante Alighieri. http://etcweb.princeton.edu/dante/pdp/biography.html. 2000. Web. 21Apr2013 Rodin-Web Sparknotes. Inferno: Dante Alighieri. http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/inferno/summary.html. 2013. Web. 21 Apr 2013. Statue.com. The Thinker. http://www.statue.com/site/the-thinker-statue.html. 2012. Web. 19 Apr 2013 Figures