"The Kiss" (German: Der Kuss) is an oil-on-canvas painting decorated with gold leaf, silver, and platinum by the Austrian Symbolist artist Gustav Klimt. It was created between 1907 and 1908 during a time known as his "Golden Period." The painting was shown in 1908 under the name Liebespaar (the lovers), as noted in the exhibition catalog. The artwork shows a couple embracing, their bodies wrapped in detailed robes inspired by the Art Nouveau style and the natural shapes of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement.
Today, the painting is displayed at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere museum in the Upper Belvedere Palace in Vienna. It is considered a masterpiece of Vienna Secession—the local version of Art Nouveau—and is likely Klimt’s most significant work.
Background
Gustav Klimt often painted themes such as love, closeness, and relationships. The Stoclet Frieze and the Beethoven Frieze are examples of his work that show people holding each other. These paintings were created before The Kiss and include a repeated image of a couple hugging.
Some people believe Klimt and his partner, Emilie Flöge, were the models for these paintings. Others think it might have been Alma Mahler, an Austrian composer, but there is no proof of this. Some suggest the woman in the painting was a model known as "Red Hilda." She looks similar to the woman in other paintings, such as Woman with feather boa, Goldfish, and Danaë.
Description
Gustav Klimt painted a couple hugging closely against a flat, gold-colored background. The two people are standing at the edge of a flower-covered meadow, with the woman’s feet stepping onto the meadow while the man’s feet are on the ground. The man wears a robe with geometric shapes and gentle curves. He has a crown made of vines, and the woman wears a crown of flowers. She is dressed in a flowing gown with floral designs. The man’s face is not visible to the viewer; instead, he is leaning down to kiss the woman’s cheek. His hands support her face, and the woman’s eyes are closed. One of her arms wraps around the man’s neck, while the other rests on his hand. Her face is tilted upward to receive the kiss.
The patterns in the painting show the style of Art Nouveau and the natural shapes found in the Arts and Crafts movement. At the same time, the background reminds viewers of the struggle between two-dimensionality and three-dimensionality seen in the work of Degas and other modern artists. Paintings like The Kiss reflect the spirit of the late 19th century because they use rich, luxurious, and sensual images. The use of gold leaf connects to medieval paintings, illuminated manuscripts, older mosaics, and spiral designs from Bronze Age art and earlier Western art. The man’s head is positioned very near the top of the canvas, which is different from traditional Western art styles. This choice, along with the painting’s simple layout, shows the influence of Japanese prints.
Klimt’s father was a traveling craftsman who made gold engravings. However, Klimt’s use of gold leaf in his paintings was inspired by a trip to Italy in 1903. During this visit, he saw the Byzantine mosaics in the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna. Klimt admired how the flat, two-dimensional mosaics and their lack of depth made the gold shine brightly. This inspired him to use gold and silver leaf in his own artwork in new ways.
Some art experts believe that in this painting, Klimt depicted the moment from the Metamorphoses by Ovid when Apollo kisses Daphne. Others think the painting shows the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Specifically, it may capture the exact moment when Orpheus turns to touch Eurydice and loses her forever. In the painting, the woman appears slightly see-through, suggesting she is disappearing, as described in the story.
Reception
Gustav Klimt painted The Kiss shortly after completing his three-part Vienna Ceiling series. This series caused controversy and was criticized as both "pornographic" and evidence of "perverted excess." The artworks made Klimt known as a controversial figure for his views that opposed authority and popular opinions about art. He once said, "If your actions and art cannot please everyone, at least please some people."
The Kiss was shown in 1908 in Vienna at an event called the Kunstschau. This event took place in a building designed by several artists, including Josef Hoffmann, Gustav Klimt, Otto Prutscher, Koloman Moser, and others. The building was created to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of Emperor Francis Joseph I’s rule, which occurred from June 1 to November 16, 1908.
Despite the controversy surrounding his earlier works, The Kiss was well received. The Austrian government bought the painting before it was completely finished when it was displayed to the public.
In February 2013, Syrian artist Tammam Azzam placed an image of The Kiss over a damaged building in an unknown area of Syria. This artwork, titled Freedom Graffiti, aimed to highlight the suffering caused by war in his country.