The motif was part of a series Munch called the Frieze of Life, on which he spent more than 30 years of his career. Later versions of the motif not only merged their faces, but also their bodies. In this motif, the couple's abstract form, in which the faces of the two appear to be merged as one, indicates their sense of belongingness and togetherness. The outside world appears vibrant and lively, whereas the interior of the room is timeless, with the couple frozen in their embrace. In the numerous realizations of this motif there is a contrast between the world inside and outside of the room in which the couple is situated. Munch experimented with the motif of a couple kissing, both in painting and woodcuts, as early as 1888–89. "Most of Munch’s figures," writes Roberta Smith, "are not mad, but paralyzed by oceanic feelings of grief, jealousy, desire or despair that many people found shocking either for their eroticism, crude style or intimations of mental instability." Though shocking, his paintings are characterized by an emotional honesty and integrity that makes them thrilling. This influenced his artistic production and the emotional states of his paintings. During his lifetime he experienced disappointment in love and feeble health, causing him fits of melancholia Munch also became an alcoholic. The Norwegian symbolist artist Edvard Munch (1863–1944) had to cope with disease, mental illness, and death in his family, as well as a strict and strongly religious father. This article has been edited and updated.Kiss by the Window (1892), an earlier realization of the "kiss" motif The Kiss is a depiction of love, as evidenced by the couple intertwined in an amorous embrace. What is the meaning behind The Kiss by Gustav Klimt? Gustav Klimt's The Kiss is located on the upper level of the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria. But I'm not certain of whether it's true.” Given the everlasting influence and enduring admiration of The Kiss, however, there's little room for doubt.Īustrian artist Gustav Klimt painted The Kiss between 19. “I believe this myself and a few other people say that they believe this too. From radiating rings and swirling spirals to rectangular blocks and concentric squares, the shapes, and forms featured in the painting showcase Klimt's attention to detail.Įven with such a striking ability to gracefully conceive figurative yet dreamy subject matter, Klimt was unsure of his talents' true merit. “I can paint and draw,” he explained. This approach materialized mostly as patterns, which have a strong presence in The Kiss. Like many painters of the Vienna Secession-a movement formed by Austrian artists interested in breaking free from tradition-Klimt employed a highly decorative style in most of his works. These include the presence of contrasting patterns, a bright color scheme, and fine lines. In addition to its golden style and subject matter, The Kiss is celebrated for other details distinctive to the artist. Like The Kiss, the scene offers a quiet glimpse into an intimate relationship. In this depiction, a sleeping mother and father hug their child. Gustav Klimt, “Love,” 1895 (Photo: Vienna Museum via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)Īs apparent in The Family, another gilded painting by Klimt, the artist's tendency toward this iconography is not limited to romantic love.
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