Can you tell me the source of this passage?

Question

"A good artist can look at an old woman and see what she used to look like when she was young. A better artist can look at a young girl and see what she will look like when she is old. The best artist can portray all the facets of a woman just as she is now.

Answer 1

Robert Heinlein: "An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl she used to be. A great artist can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is, and force the viewer to se the pretty girl she used to be, more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo see that this lovely young girl is still alive, prisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older than eighteen in her heart."

i have noticed there are a few different versions here is another

Anybody can look at a pretty girl and see a pretty girl. An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl that she used to be. But a great artist —a master —and that is what Auguste Rodin was —can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is… and force the viewer to see the pretty girl she used to be…. and more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo, or even you, see that this lovely young girl is still alive, not old and ugly at all, but simply prisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet, endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older than eighteen in her heart…. no matter what the merciless hours have done to her. Look at her, Ben. Growing old doesn't matter to you and me; we were never meant to be admired —but it does to them. Look at her!"

from 'Stranger in a Strange Land' By Robert A. Heinlein

Answer 2

Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land

Anybody can look at a pretty girl and see a pretty girl. An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl that she used to be. But a great artist—a master—and that is exactly what Auguste Rodin was—can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is... and force the viewer to see the pretty girl she used to be... and more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo [...] see that this lovely young girl is still alive, not old and ugly at all, but simply prisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet, endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older than eighteen in her head... no matter what the merciless hours have done to her.”

Answer 3

I never would have guessed:

"Robert Heinlein: "An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl she used to be. A great artist can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is, and force the viewer to se the pretty girl she used to be, more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo see that this lovely young girl is still alive, prisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older than eighteen in her heart."

Answer 4

Robert Heinlein. Here's the full quote - Pax - C.

"An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl she used to be. A great artist can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is, and force the viewer to se the pretty girl she used to be, more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo see that this lovely young girl is still alive, prisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older than eighteen in her heart."

Answer 5

I BELIEVE IT TAKES ALOTSSSS OF STUDYING FOR THAT AND LOTS AND LOTS OF KNOWLEDGE AS WELL, SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING THOUGH , CAUSE OTHER THAN GOD NOBODY CAN REALLY SAY OR TELL FOR SURE WHAT A YOUNGER OR OLDER WOMAN WILL LOOK LIKE NOW OR LATER , THEY ARE JUST PAINTED TO LOOK OLDER OR YOUNGER WHATEVER THE CASE MAYBE .