Adrian Brijbassi wrote, "The Kiss by Gustav Klimt surpasses expectations," unlike that tiny and underwhelming Mona Lisa by Objectification of women: Some feminist critics argue that it objectifies women, reducing them to passive objects of male desire. They point to the woman's closed eyes and limp posture as evidence of her submissiveness.

Alicia’s other areas of interest in Art History include the process of writing about Art History and how to analyze paintings. Some of her favorite art movements include Impressionism and German Expressionism. She is yet to complete her Masters in Art History (she would like to do this abroad in Europe) having given it some time to first develop more professional experience with the interest to one day lecture it too. In the Maggie Stiefvater novel 'Greywaren', the painting is a very powerful sweetmetal Bryde attempts to steal at one point. Aberdeen, Shane (2022-10-02). "The 26 Most Famous Portraits of Women - Ranked! [ICONIC ART ONLY]". Ranking Diva . Retrieved 2023-01-24. This group of painters rejected the academic style in favor of a highly decorative and varied approach, similar to the Art Nouveau style. A primary aim of this group was to support young, non-traditional artists.

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Other historians have suggested that The Kiss reflects the moment when Orpheus turns to caress his love Eurydice as he loses her forever, from the tale of Eurydice and Orpheus. Many cite the slightly translucent appearance of the woman’s face as evidence for this interpretation. It is thought that Klimt and his companion Emilie Flöge modeled for the work, [8] but there is no evidence or record to prove this. Others suggest the female was the model known as 'Red Hilda'; she bears strong resemblance to the model in his Woman with feather boa, Goldfish and Danaë. [9] Description [ edit ] The Kiss, Francesco Hayez, 1859 We need to explore the historical context in which Klimt painted this controversial and beautiful piece. Gustav Klimthad an Avante-Garde approach to art and was a member of the Secessionist movement. Klimt was also a pioneer of a European art genre called Symbolism. Symbolism shared similarities with the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements, particularly the mystical motifs and a personal approach to art.

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was an Austrian painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement, which sought to break away from the traditional academic style of art and embrace more modern and avant-garde approaches. Klimt is known for his distinctive style, characterized by ornate patterns, gold leaf, and erotic imagery. You can see the lilac and dark purple flowers in the woman’s hair, which are completely different in color and shape from the field of wildflowers beneath her feet. Patches of similarly colored flowers adorn the woman’s robe with bright oranges, pinks, and purples. Not only do the colors add vibrancy and life to the composition, but they also contrast beautifully with the shades of gold that cover the majority of the canvas. The only complete photograph of Klimt’s renowned piece Medicine, which was destroyed by the Nazis during WWII. His other works in this series, Philosophy and Jurisprudence, were also destroyed. The Kiss is an incredibly significant piece for several reasons. Not only is this one of Klimt’s most revered paintings, but it is also a celebrated example of the Art Nouveau movement. It is no wonder that The Kiss painting remains one of the most loved paintings of all time.Klimt was born in Vienna and began his artistic training at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts. Along with his brother and a friend, he formed the artistic collective known as the "Company of Artists," which later evolved into the Vienna Secession. Klimt's early work was heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, as well as the work of the Symbolist painters. Klimt painted The Kiss soon after his three-part Vienna Ceiling series, which created a scandal and were criticized as both "pornographic" and evidence of "perverted excess". The works had recast the artist as an enfant terrible for his anti-authoritarian and anti-popularist views on art. He wrote, "If you can not please everyone with your deeds and your art, please a few". [12] Even 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. “I believe this myself and a few other people say that they believe this too. But I'm not certainof whether it's true.” Given theeverlastinginfluence and enduring admiration of The Kiss, however, there's little room for doubt. The painting has been referenced in several films and TV shows, including the 2001 movie "Amélie," in which the protagonist imagines herself as the woman in the painting, and the painting is featured in several scenes throughout the movie. The painting also plays a key role in the plot of the 2015 film "Woman in Gold," which tells the story of Maria Altmann's fight to reclaim the painting from the Austrian government. As apparent in The Family, another gilded painting by Klimt, the artist's tendency toward this iconography is not limited to romantic love. In this depiction, a sleeping mother and father hug theirchild. Like The Kiss, the scene offers a quiet glimpse into an intimate relationship.

Apollo and Daphne (1470-1480) by Piero del Pollaiolo; Piero del Pollaiolo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Toward the conclusion of World War II, the University of Vienna Ceiling Paintings were among a number of Klimt's artworks destroyed by retreating German troops. "The Kiss,"