The Kiss, 1908-1909, Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt's painting 'The Kiss' is the archetype of sweetness and passion. This vibrant, colorful, and loving scene of two faces and bodies embracing each other is housed in the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria. Although clearly extravagant, the gold leaf-washed canvas does not compromise the deep significance behind this work of art. We invite you to immerse yourself in this erotic, intriguing, and mythical work of art to discover the fascinating meaning behind this painting.

context

Klimt painted The Kiss at a critical moment in his career: in the midst of an artistic panic. He had just received harsh criticism for his ceiling paintings of the University of Vienna, 'Philosophy', 'Medicine' and 'Jurisprudence'. The paintings were heavily criticized for their nudity, and Klimt had his own reservations about his own work and his damaged reputation. Furthermore, he had just left the Viennese Succession, despite having been its founder and serving as the movement's first President. This group aimed to break away from the Academy of Fine Arts and its conservative values. The Viennese Successionists painted "what should not be painted", refusing to remove sexual elements from their works of art. They explored the power of a delicate touch, an embrace, a kiss, a violent movement or an erotic scene. Although Klimt left the movement due to disagreements, he remained its main representative along with Egon Schiele. Furthermore, after breaking away from the Succession, Klimt organized the exhibition 'Kunstschau' where he presented 'The Kiss' to the public for the first time. This event was met with strong criticism and ended in financial ruin. However, despite this, the exhibition was, in fact, the beginning of the astronomical success of 'The Kiss'. The Viennese government purchased the work even before the exhibition ended, as it was seen as something of national interest.

Ornament

The work depicts an embracing couple, hidden behind a large golden cloak. These decorations protect and enrich the couple, repeating the immortality of their love. Two distinct parts make up this image, the first part depicting a man with geometric motifs in black and white, symbolizing power, virility and masculinity. Meanwhile, the second part portrays the woman, where Klimt uses flowers and circles to reflect images of femininity and motherhood.

CIFIT

The man and woman are the only figures in this work of art who appear to be surrendering to their desires, completely untouched by time or reality. Initially, the man seems to dominate because of his size, but the woman's leg, exposed under these decorations, suggests that she is kneeling. Consequently, if she were standing, she would actually be larger than the man in the painting, and she would dominate the man, and not the other way around. This embrace can be seen as a self-portrait, with the lovers symbolizing the artist and his long-term partner, Emilie Flöge. However, the female figure could also be one of Klimt's many muses or other romantic 'conquests'. Since Klimt worked so intensely, he loved women just as intensely, and he had many lovers throughout his life.

EMBRACING

Like many of Klimt's works that depict an embrace, 'The Kiss' hides the man's face and focuses instead on the woman. In this work, the young woman's facial expression and closed eyes evoke feelings of abandonment, ecstasy, and pleasure at once. Although the man's position as he embraces her may seem forced, the way his hands gently hold the woman's face evokes feelings of tenderness and warmth. The lovers are shown in an unbreakable embrace, despite the fact that they are entwined in a bed of flowers, they are also on the edge of an abyss, threatening to disappear forever.  

GOLDEN PHASE

The painting 'The Kiss' marks the culmination of Gustav Klimt's golden phase, where his father's craft as a gunsmith instilled in Klimt his taste for this element. Well-versed in this craft, Klimt used gold plating in 'The Kiss', where the shimmering background acts as a golden shroud for the lovers. Whether because of the use of gold, or the bold subject matter, 'The Kiss' is a gripping and shocking work of art for all who have the privilege of seeing it with their own eyes.

Source and Copyright of the Article: https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/art-analysis-the-kiss-by-klimt/

Photo Credit:  https://www.belvedere.at/