A kiss it can be innocent, passionate, tender, intense, playful, brotherly, a seal of promise and love, or a symbol of separation. It is no wonder, then, that it has been an inspiration to many different artists, several of whom have used it as an allegorical symbol.

The artists whose works are presented below, show variety in both the media they use and the interpretation of this motif. One thing is for sure, kissing is a subject that captivates all kinds of audiences.

  • Francesco Hayez, The Kiss

Francesco Hayez – Il Bacio [1859] Brera Gallery, Milan

It is the most famous work of the Italian artist Francesco Hayez. The painting is a symbol of Italian Romanticism and represents the spirit of the Risorgimento. It is about a couple from the Middle Ages, embracing while kissing each other. Specifically, the kiss represents the union of Italy and France, which brought about Italian unification in the 19th century. The kiss celebrates freedom and patriotic love.

  • Auguste Rodin, The Kiss

Auguste Rodin – Le Baiser [1882] Rodin Museum, Paris

Auguste Rodin – Le Baiser [1882] Rodin Museum, Paris

The monumental marble sculpture depicts Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini, two lovers killed by Francesca’s enraged husband. Taken from Dante’s Divine Comedy, the play depicts their kiss as they read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere together. The sleek and lithe bodies contrast strikingly with the rough carved rock on which they sit. It is one of the most honest – and most popular – images of carnal love in the history of Art.

  • Gustav Klimt, The Kiss

Gustav Klimt – The Kiss [1908] Belvedere Palace, Vienna

Gustav Klimt – The Kiss [1908] Belvedere Palace, Vienna

Perhaps the most famous kiss in the Western world is ‘The Kiss’ (1907-1908), by Gustav Klimt. It belongs to the so-called “Golden Period” of the Austrian painter and is considered his most popular work, as well as one of the most famous and beloved works of the Art Nouveau era. The painting shows a couple embracing against a golden background, with the man tenderly kissing the woman. It is even rumored that it is the artist himself and his partner Emilie Flöge. The work is an ode to love, tenderness and romantic love, which is in harmonious coexistence with nature.

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