inscribed on the verso on the board: with stencil, black ink: A. Rodin/Drawing/Frame no. 153; annotated with brush: a picture framer label 106: Moirinat

"The Sapphic Couple with very refined lines and in which paleness is like an invitation to look very closely, had probably been pre-selecte to be exhibited at the pavillon de l'alma, where Rodin organized his first grand Parisian retrospective. It is not absolutely certain however that it was displayed. It includes all characteristics of the drawing of the alma: it is glued on a board support with a number written with stencil (number 153) has a number inscribed by hand (106) and has the label of the picture framer Moirinat, who was solicited for all the drawings and pictures of this exhibit. However, it doesn't appear on the list of the works registered in the "Cahiers Gris" (Gray notebook) that details the hanging order of the drawings. The pose of the two lovers was perhaps considered as too audacious to be shown to the naive audience of the World Fair. This drawing very probably suffered the same fate as its preparatory version done with graphite and stumping in the collection of the Rodin Museum (D.5967), and was finished in the portfolios of his "musee secret". In fact, Rodin kept in his studio, hidden from public eye, hundreds of erotic drawings and small delicieusement impudiques that he never displayed in any exhibit. Only a few favored visitors could leaf through the drawings of this "secret museum".

~ Christina Uribe Buley, the Rodin drawings expert who authenticates Rodin drawings and creates certificates for them (required now by Sotheby's and Christie's for more valuable Rodin drawings passing through auction)