A masterpiece of the early Modern period, Gustav Klimt's The Kiss is a deceptively simple portrait of lust and love. But beyond that glittery gold leaf, the work is full of fascinating facts.
Before creating this piece, Klimt had received scathing scorn in the first decade of the 20th century for his three-part University of Vienna Ceiling Paintings. Because of the nudity in these works, his interpretation of Philosophy , Medicine and Jurisprudence were derided as "pornography" and "perverted excess," wounding his reputation.
In , perhaps reeling from the poor reception of the Vienna Ceiling Paintings, Klimt was sketching furiously, but he doubted his work. He confessed in a letter, "Either I am too old, or too nervous, or too stupid—there must be something wrong. In , the Austrian Gallery displayed The Kiss for the first time, even though Klimt hadn't yet put the finishing touches on the work. Its unfinished state didn't stop the Belvedere Museum a. Prior to this mammoth sale, the highest price paid for a painting in Austria was a relatively paltry crowns.
Austria considers The Kiss a national treasure, and so the Viennese museum that has long been its home would never dream of selling it. However, if such a transaction were to happen, it's predicted The Kiss would break sales records again. The New York Times noted at that time this was "the highest sum ever paid for a painting.
The pose of the lovers depicted in The Kiss reflects the natural forms favored in the Vienna Art Nouveau of Vienna Jugendstil movement. There is much debate about the identity of the woman in this composition. Some believe the woman may be Emilie Floge, a close friend and companion of Klimt.
For Klimt, the two-dimensional nature of the mosaics only enhanced the brilliant effect of the gold. Alongside The Tree of Life and The Beethoven Frieze, this piece completes an allegory representing the union of erotic and spiritual love and connection.
The embracing couple takes center stage in this composition, with a dark and flat golden background framing them on either side. A flowing yellow dress decorated with organic floral patterns and circular shapes encapsulates the woman. The florals continue into her hair, and the man wears a crown of ivy. There are several theories about the intended identities of the man and woman wrapped in a loving embrace. Some historians have argued that this composition may capture the kiss between Apollo and Daphne in the Greek myth, Metamorphoses.
Although Daphne transformed into a laurel tree to escape the love of Apollo, he still embraces her. Perhaps the abundance of flowers on the female figure is a nod to this story? Other historians have suggested that The Kiss reflects the moment when Orpheus turns to caress his love Eurydice as he loses her forever, from the tale of Eurydice and Orpheus.
We can see a distinct duality between the masculine and feminine within this painting. The composition of the two figures with the man standing above captures the dominant, sometimes overpowering masculine force. The kneeling and surrendering female figure and her flowing, more organic robe soften the composition and highlight the duality.
Although the naked bodies of both figures are hidden by the robes, this painting is imbued with a sense of eroticism and sensuality. The Kiss is an incredibly significant piece for several reasons. It is no wonder that The Kiss painting remains one of the most loved paintings of all time. Thought to be perverted and pornographic, these prior works cast a dark light on Klimt and his anti-popularist and anti-authoritarian views. Despite this reputation, The Kiss was received with much enthusiasm.
The Austrian government even purchased the painting unfinished after being displayed in a public exhibition. The fine lines used to construct the human figures and the intricate detailing around them is characteristic of Gustav Klimt. Her facial features are soft and delicate, with a carefully carved nose, intricate eyelashes, and daintily bent hands.
Despite his clear talent, Klimt, like many artists, was uncertain of his artistic ability. He once said that although he believes that he can draw and paint, and others may too, he cannot be certain that it is true. When we look at The Kiss today, we cannot disagree more with Klimt.
This painting is undoubtedly one of the most famous and celebrated. The decorative elements within this painting are seemingly endless. Each inch of the canvas is packed with different decorative textures and designs. Within The Kiss, there are countless and often juxtaposing patterns. In fact, many of the patterns used in The Kiss are motifs that Klimt employs throughout his oeuvre. In The Kiss, we can see these vibrant colors in the stylized flowers throughout the composition.
Not only do the colors add vibrancy and life to the composition, but they also contrast beautifully with the shades of gold that cover the majority of the canvas.
This work praises the idea of love. A couple occupies the center of the canvas. The background is gold but slightly duller than the man and woman, which is no doubt the artist making his subjects stand out. In the foreground,there are scattered flowers which are pushed to the surface in a way that almost confronts the viewer. Gold, a symbol of power , invades the canvas in a warm yet dominant fashion. We cannot help but think that this couple is of great privilege.
These lovers seem to come straight from a dream. The world around them, if there is one at all, neither invades nor matters in their romantic bubble. Their golden capes make us think of posh wedding apparel. Though we cannot clearly see the male and female forms, Klimt uses typically masculine and feminine patterns to highlight the difference. All of the shapes still coexist harmoniously. Empty and full spaces compensate for one another in a perfect balance.
The heavily-charged patterns of their garments contrast with the flowerbed but not in a competitive manner. Rather, one that allows the two to compliment each other. The main background is dreamy, dusted with gold and stars. A sense of abandonment emerges from her feminine features. She seems soothed, reassured and safe in the arms of the one she loves.
It is strategically elevated above that of the woman, drawing attention to her beauty. Filled with ardour, he is about to kiss the woman that he holds with such passion and tenderness.
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