Lexi Webster
Austrian artist Gustav Klimt painted The Kiss between 1907 and 1908. It is an oil-on-canvas painting with gold leaf, silver, and platinum. The painting is a product of Klimt's Golden Period, during which he incorporated gold leaf into his works, inspired by the gold-detailed religious art of the Middle Ages and the sacred works of Byzantine artists. The Kiss is considered one of the most famous paintings in art history and is known for its bold pattern work, shimmering paint, and fine lines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Gustav Klimt |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Date of painting | 1907-1908 |
| Painting medium | Oil-on-canvas, gold leaf, silver, platinum |
| Dimensions | 72" x 72" (180 cm x 180 cm) |
| Current location | Österreichische Galerie Belvedere museum in the Upper Belvedere Palace in Vienna |
| Style | Symbolist, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts movement |
| Subject | Two lovers embracing |
| Inspiration | Trip to Ravenna, Italy in 1903, Byzantine mosaics in the Church of San Vitale |
| Interpretation | Love, intimacy, sexuality, eroticism, passion, desire |
| Sale price | 25,000 crowns (approx. $240,000 in contemporary US currency) |
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What You'll Learn
- Gustav Klimt painted The Kiss between 1907 and 908
- Klimt's use of gold leaf was inspired by a trip to Ravenna, Italy
- The painting was considered pornographic by post-Victorian society
- The Kiss is housed in Vienna's Österreichische Galerie Belvedere
- The painting's figures are thought to be Klimt and his partner, Emilie Flöge
Gustav Klimt painted The Kiss between 1907 and 908
The Kiss is an oil-on-canvas painting with gold leaf, silver, and platinum by the Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. Klimt painted The Kiss between 1907 and 1908, during the height of what scholars refer to as his "Golden Period". The painting is a masterpiece of Vienna Secession, the local variation of Art Nouveau, and is considered to be Klimt's most important work.
The painting depicts a couple embracing each other, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes decorated in a style influenced by the contemporary Art Nouveau movement and the organic forms of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement. The man wears a robe printed with geometric patterns and subtle swirls, along with a crown of vines. The woman wears a flowing dress with floral patterns and a crown of flowers. Her eyes are closed, with one arm wrapped around the man's neck, while her face is upturned to receive his kiss. The man's face is not visible to the audience, as it is bent downward to kiss the woman's cheek, with his hands cradling her face.
The use of gold leaf in the painting is inspired by the gold-detailed religious art of the Middle Ages and the sacred works of the Byzantine Empire. Klimt's interest in the Byzantine period and the use of gold in his paintings was influenced by his father's work as a travelling artisan specialising in gold engravings, as well as his trip to Ravenna, Italy, in 1903, where he saw the Byzantine mosaics in the Church of San Vitale. The flatness of the mosaics and their lack of depth and perspective enhanced their golden brilliance, which inspired Klimt to incorporate gold leaf into his own work.
The Kiss is located on the upper level of the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria, and has been enchanting audiences since its completion in 1908. It is considered to be Klimt's artistic response to the Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna, reflecting the workings of his enigmatic subconscious. The painting's powerful presence, intricate details, and evocative message have made it one of Klimt's most popular and influential works.
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Klimt's use of gold leaf was inspired by a trip to Ravenna, Italy
Austrian artist Gustav Klimt is known for his masterpiece, "The Kiss", a shimmering and beloved sample of his Golden Period. Klimt's use of gold leaf in paintings was inspired by a trip he made to Italy in 1903, where he visited Venice and Ravenna twice.
In Ravenna, Klimt saw the Byzantine mosaics in the Church of San Vitale. The flatness of the mosaics and their lack of perspective and depth only enhanced their golden brilliance, and this inspired Klimt to make unprecedented use of gold and silver leaf in his own work. Klimt was fascinated by the gold mosaics in Ravenna and considered them "incredibly stunning". He wrote to his romantic partner, Emilie Flöge, about the famed depictions of Emperor and Empress Justinian and Theodora.
Art historians have found compositional parallels between Klimt's regal portrait of Viennese socialite Adele Bloch-Bauer and the centuries-old rendering of the Byzantine Empress Theodora. In Byzantine mosaics and icons, gold signalled an eternal realm, existing beyond time and saturated by divine light. Klimt's interest in the Byzantine period also symbolised a move towards greater stability, through static, inorganic forms, suggesting a search for refuge after the artist's exploration of the instinctual powers of archaic Greece.
Klimt's use of gold leaf in his paintings also reflected the strong influence of the gold-detailed religious art of the Middle Ages, as well as the sacred works created by artists of the Byzantine Empire. Some considered paintings such as "The Kiss" to be sacrilegious. Klimt's interest in gold may also have been influenced by his father, who worked as a gold engraver.
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The painting was considered pornographic by post-Victorian society
Austrian artist Gustav Klimt painted "The Kiss" between 1907 and 1908. It is a shimmering and beloved sample of his Golden Period. Klimt's father was a traveling artisan specializing in gold engravings, and this likely influenced his interest in the Byzantine period and the use of gold leaf in his paintings.
The painting depicts a couple embracing each other, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes decorated in a style influenced by the contemporary Art Nouveau style and the organic forms of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement. The man wears a robe printed with geometric patterns and subtle swirls, along with a crown of vines. The woman wears a flowing dress with floral patterns and a crown of flowers. Her eyes are closed, with one arm wrapped around the man's neck, and her face is upturned to receive his kiss.
Despite both figures being fully robed, the post-Victorian society of the early 1900s perceived "The Kiss" as pornographic. This was not the first time Klimt's work had been deemed pornographic. Klimt had previously received criticism for his University of Vienna ceiling paintings, which featured nude figures. The established art community derided these paintings as pornographic, and Klimt had to repay his commission to Vienna's Ministry of Education.
Klimt's work often explored love, intimacy, and sexuality, and "The Kiss" is no exception. The painting conveys a moment of intense sensual pleasure, hinting at the workings of the subconscious. The couple is shown giving into their desires, untouched by time or reality. The woman's exposed foot under the embellishment suggests that she is kneeling, and if she were standing, she would be larger than her male companion, dominating him. This embrace could be seen as a self-portrait, where the lovers are symbolic of the artist and his long-term partner, Emilie Flöge.
Despite the public outcry it generated, "The Kiss" sold before Klimt had even finished it. The Belvedere Museum of Vienna, Austria, purchased the painting for 25,000 crowns, roughly $240,000 in contemporary US currency. This was five times higher than any painting previously sold in Vienna.
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The Kiss is housed in Vienna's Österreichische Galerie Belvedere
Gustav Klimt's masterpiece, "The Kiss", is housed in Vienna's Österreichische Galerie Belvedere. The painting is a highlight for many visitors to the gallery and is considered one of the most famous paintings in the world. Klimt's most popular work, it draws visitors annually to the Austrian Gallery. The painting is installed in a cavernous dark room in the Belvedere Castle, where it hangs alone on a vast wall, flanked by heavy burgundy drapes. The Upper Belvedere, where "The Kiss" is exhibited, is a stunning example of Baroque architecture and houses the largest collection of Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. The Belvedere palace complex, considered one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in the world, consists of two main buildings: the Upper Belvedere and the Lower Belvedere. These palaces were originally built in the early 18th century as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, a celebrated general and art connoisseur.
"The Kiss" is a shimmering and beloved sample of Klimt's Golden Period. The painting features bold pattern-work, shimmering paint, and fine lines that compose its figures. The artist's skilled draughtsmanship is especially evident in his rendering of the female subject. Her soft face features intricate eyelashes and a delicately defined nose, while simple lines compose her gently bent hands. The painting, completed in 1908, depicts a couple embracing, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes decorated in a style influenced by the contemporary Art Nouveau movement. Klimt's use of gold leaf in the painting reflects the strong influence of the gold-detailed religious art of the Middle Ages, as well as the sacred works created by artists of the Byzantine Empire.
"The Kiss" was first exhibited in 1908 at the Kunstschau art exhibition and was purchased by the Belvedere Museum of Vienna, Austria, before the artist had completed it. The sale price of 25,000 crowns was roughly $240,000 in contemporary U.S. currency, five times higher than any painting previously sold in Vienna. However, that price turned out to be a bargain, as Klimt's less renowned (though still quite famous) "Adele Bloch-Bauer I" sold for $135 million in 2006. The painting is considered a masterpiece of the early 20th century and a symbol of Viennese Art Nouveau.
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The painting's figures are thought to be Klimt and his partner, Emilie Flöge
Austrian artist Gustav Klimt painted "The Kiss" between 1907 and 1908. It is a shimmering, colourful, and beloved sample of his Golden Period. Klimt's interest in the Byzantine period and the flatness of the mosaics he observed in Ravenna, Italy, inspired the static, inorganic forms and the use of gold in "The Kiss". The painting's figures are thought to be Klimt and his partner, Emilie Flöge.
The man and woman are the only figures in the artwork, depicted as giving in to their desires, unconcerned by time or reality. The man initially appears to dominate the woman due to his size, but the composition suggests that the woman is kneeling, and if she were standing, she would be larger than her male companion. The man's face is not shown, as is typical of Klimt's works that depict embraces, and his head is bent downward to kiss the woman's cheek. The woman's eyes are closed, with one arm wrapped around the man's neck and the other resting on his hand, her face upturned to receive his kiss.
The painting's style reflects the contemporary Art Nouveau movement and the organic forms of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement. The man wears a robe with geometric patterns and subtle swirls, crowned with vines, while the woman wears a flowing floral dress with a crown of flowers. The figures are situated at the edge of a flowery meadow, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes decorated in a style influenced by the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements.
"The Kiss" is considered a masterpiece of Vienna Secession, the local variation of Art Nouveau. It is Klimt's most famous work, housed in Vienna's esteemed Österreichische Galerie Belvedere museum in the Upper Belvedere Palace. Klimt's use of gold leaf in "The Kiss" and other works during his Golden Period was influenced by his father's occupation as a goldsmith.
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Frequently asked questions
The Kiss was painted by Gustav Klimt.
Gustav Klimt painted The Kiss between 1907 and 1908.
The original painting of The Kiss is housed in Vienna's Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, in the Upper Belvedere Palace.
The Kiss is considered Gustav Klimt's most iconic painting. It is known for its bold pattern work, shimmering paint, and fine lines. The painting also reflects Klimt's interest in exploring and capturing love and desire.
