Paintings such as The Kiss were visual manifestations of fin-de-siecle spirit because they capture a decadence conveyed by opulent and sensuous images.
What was the time period of the painting The Kiss?
Creation of the Painting. The Kiss was painted between 1907 and 1908. It was a time of unconventional ideas, economic development, and social upheaval. Artists refer to the period Gustav created The Kiss as his ‘Golden period’ because he worked on other pieces using gold just as he did with The Kiss.
Why is Klimt’s painting the kiss so famous?
His painting The Kiss is thought to be an image of them as lovers. Klimt’s paintings have brought some of the highest prices ever recorded for individual works of art. The Kiss, Klimt’s most famous painting, was realised between 1907-08, the highpoint of Klimt “ Golden Period ,” when he painted a number of works in a similar gilded style.
Why was the kiss painting considered sacrilegious?
This practice 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. As a result, some considered such paintings as "The Kiss" to be sacrilegious. 7. The artist created "The Kiss," his most iconic painting, in the aftermath of dismal failure.
What makes the kiss different from the other paintings of Rene Descartes?
One factor that distinguishes "The Kiss" from the majority of the artist's works is its inclusion of a man and a woman together. Other paintings that feature both sexes include his Beethoven Frieze from 1901, Fulfillment (The Embrace) from 1905 and Death and Life from 1910.
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When was The Kiss painted?
1907–1908The Kiss / CreatedThe Kiss (in German Der Kuss) is an oil-on-canvas painting with added gold leaf, silver and platinum by the Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. It was painted at some point in 1907 and 1908, during the height of what scholars call his "Golden Period".
What is the subject of the painting The Kiss?
The subject of The Kiss is centred on a pair of lovers kneeling in a grassy patch of wildflowers. Everything about the body language of the two lovers suggests a consensual union. She wraps her arms around his neck; he cradles her face as he leans in to kiss her. They are ardent and trusting at the same time.
Why is The Kiss Art Nouveau?
In the artwork, a couple embrace and kiss. However only parts of their bodies are shown, and the rest is hidden behind a sheet of gold and geometric shapes. This type of artwork is characteristic of the Art Nouveau style because of its stylistic accents.
Why is the Kiss important?
The Significance of The Kiss. 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.
How much did the Austrian government pay for the painting of Kiss?
When the Austrian government bought The Kiss from Klimt before he finished it, they paid a record-breaking 25,000 crowns for the painting. Today, this sum translates to around $240,000.
What is the Kiss by Gustav Klimt?
in Art History. T he Kiss by Gustav Klimt is one of the most iconic paintings from the Art Nouveau period. Klimt painted this rich oil painting with added platinum, silver, and gold leaf in 1907, at the height of his “Golden Period”. The Kiss depicts a couple wrapped in a loving embrace in typical Art Nouveau style.
What was Klimt's main goal?
A primary aim of this group was to support young, non-traditional artists. In the early 20th century, the University of Vienna asked Klimt to create three murals for their ceiling.
When did Klimt start his artistic style?
In 1892, following the untimely passing of his father and brother, Klimt began to embrace a more personal artistic style. This new style drew heavily on Symbolism and a broad range of influences outside of his classical training. Around 1897, we begin to see Klimt’s matured style emerging, and he established the Vienna Sezession.
What was Klimt's style of painting?
Much of Klimt’s early work with this trio, like his murals at the Vienna Burgtheater, was in the academic style of painting typical of the 19th century. The three artists received the Golden Order of Merit in 1888.
Who is the woman in the Kiss?
There is much debate about the identity of the woman in this composition. Some believe the woman may be Emilie Floge, a close friend and companion of Klimt. Others think she bears more resemblance to a model known as Red Hilda, who posed for Klimt’s Woman with feather boa, Goldfish, and Danae.
What is the Kiss style?
The Kiss embodies a range of artistic styles in a remarkably harmonious way. The use of gold leaf is traced back to the artist's affinity for Byzantine art, which inspired the entire "Golden Period", while the spiral patterns in the clothes recall Bronze Age art, the decorative tendrils seen in Western art since before classical times, but also the Arts and Crafts movement. The pose of the lovers, the exaggeration of their figures and the way these two forms are melded together, evoke the style of the Vienna Art Nouveau.
What is the subject matter of the Kiss?
The subject matter of Gustav Klimt's The Kiss is rather simple – it depicts a couple locked in an intimate embrace on the edge of a flowery meadow. The couple and the surrounding landscape are exquisitely rendered in a two-dimensional pattern.
What was Gustav Klimt's main goal in the Vienna Secession?
Despite not having a genuine manifest, the group’s founding principles were to provide young and unconventional artists with an outlet to show their work, to expose Vienna to the great works of foreign artists and to publish a periodical titled Ver Sacrum which would make the artworks of the members visible. Bringing together all Naturalists, Realists and Symbolists to work together and extend their vocabularies in different directions, the group attempted to keep art above the realm of commercial concerns.
What is the kiss in art?
9. "The Kiss" is a ménage of different schools of art . The gold leaf hearkens back to such Byzantine artworks as the mosaics in the Church of San Vitale.
What did Klimt's Kiss represent?
The Kiss representing the apex of his "Golden Period," this concludes similar thematic studies during his career, ...
What is the name of Gustav Klimt's most famous painting?
The Kiss, 1907 by Gustav Klimt. The Kiss is Klimt's most popular work and visitors flock annually to see it in Vienna's Austrian Gallery. At a remarkable 72in x 72in (180cm x 180cm), its powerful presence resounds from the wall as the life-size figures, wrapped in gold, embrace. In 1903, Klimt traveled twice to Ravenna, ...
What is the most famous painting of Klimt?
During the first decade of the 20th century, Klimt completed a series known as the Vienna Ceiling Paintings at the University of Vienna's great hall.
What is the gold coin Gustav Klimt painted on?
In 2003, the Austrian Mint issued a 14-gram, 100-Euro gold coin showing Gustav Klimt's head and on the flip side, an etching of "The Kiss.". 6. "The Kiss" is the final painting of Klimt's Gold Period, during which he incorporated gold leaf into his works.
Where did Klimt see the Golden Period?
In 1903, Klimt traveled twice to Ravenna, where he saw the mosaics of San Vitale, whose Byzantine influence was apparent in the paintings of what would become known as his "Golden Period".
Where is the Kiss of Klimt?
"The Kiss," however remains on exhibit at the Belvedere.
Who painted the kiss?
The Kiss (in German, Liebespaar, Lovers) is an oil painting with added silver and gold leaf by the Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt.
Where was the Kiss by Gustave Klimt?
The Kiss by Gustave Klimt. It was in Venice, Italy, at the Galleria Internazionale d’Arte Moderna located in Ca’ Pesaro, the most important baroque Venetian palace, that Robert Langdon, the main character in Dan Brown’s Inferno, saw for the first time Gustave Klimt ’s masterpiece The Kiss while it was on loan from Vienna.
What did Klimt do at 14?
Klimt opened an independent studio in 1883 specializing in the painting of murals. He began to take on decorative commissions, such as elaborate murals and ceiling paintings for theaters and other public buildings.
What is the golden halo in Klimt's painting?
A golden halo surrounds the couple, who seem to have shaken off an earthly weight and have been transported into an infinite, almost sacred sphere. Klimt depicts the couple locked in intimacy, while the rest of the painting dissolves into shimmering, extravagant flat patterning.
What was Klimt's inspiration for his golden phase?
For Klimt the flatness of the mosaics and their lack of perspective and depth only enhanced their golden brilliance, and he started to make unprecedented use of gold and silver leaf in his own work.
What is Klimt's style of painting known for?
The style is known for its flat perspective, references to nature, and curved lines. Klimt remained with the Secession until 1908.
What was Klimt's style?
Klimt’s mature style emerged in 1897, in which year he painted three allegorical murals ( Philosophy, Medicine, and Jurisprudence ) for the ceiling of the University of Vienna ’s auditorium, which were violently criticized; the erotic symbolism and pessimism of these works created such a scandal that the murals were rejected.
When was the Kiss painted?
The Kiss was painted between 1907 and 1908. It was a time of unconventional ideas, economic development, and social upheaval. Artists refer to the period Gustav created The Kiss as his ‘Golden period’ because he worked on other pieces using gold just as he did with The Kiss. He got inspired to use gold in his art pieces from Byzantine mosaics he saw during his travel.
How much is the Kiss painting worth?
Judging by the prices of his other pieces which were sold recently, The Kiss is worth more than 135 million USD.
What is the Kiss by Klimt?
The Kiss is a timeless piece that portrays a universal message of love. It shows a couple intimately holding each other on the edge of the flowery meadow. The Kiss is said to be Klimt’s most acclaimed artwork.
Why is Gustav's Kiss considered blasphemous?
At the beginning of the 20th century, gold was only used in revered texts and sacred images. Therefore, Gustav’s use of gold to portray love was considered blasphemous at the time. Currently, The Kiss is one of the most valued paintings due to its magnificence.
Where did Gustav Klimt learn his art?
It is said that Klimt and his two brothers acquired their artistic talent from their father who was a gold engraver. Klimt attended the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts where he perfected his skill.
What is the legacy of the kiss?
Legacy of the Kiss. The Kiss is regarded as an iconic piece of Art Nouveau. The artwork is done on a square canvas measuring 1.8 meters by 1.8 meters. It displays an intimate and tranquil scene in which a man and a woman embrace each other in a kiss.
Why was Klimt's painting controversial?
At the start of the 20th century, some of Klimt’s pieces were harshly criticized for displaying nudity. However, it was the controversy around his paintings which led to their popularity.
What is the kiss in art?
The Kiss (in German Der Kuss) is an oil-on-canvas painting with added gold leaf, silver and platinum by the Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. It was painted at some point in 1907 and 1908, during the height of what scholars call his "Golden Period". It was exhibited in 1908 under the title Liebespaar (the lovers) as stated in the catalogue of the exhibition. The painting depicts a couple embracing each other, their bodies entwined in elaborate beautiful robes decorated in a style influenced by the contemporary Art Nouveau style and the organic forms of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement. The painting now hangs in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere museum in the Belvedere, Vienna, and is considered a masterpiece of Vienna Secession (local variation of Art Nouveau) and Klimt's most popular work.
Where was the Kiss exhibited?
The Kiss was exhibited in 1908 in Vienna in the Kunstschau – the building created in collaboration by Josef Hoffmann, Gustav Klimt, Otto Prutscher, Koloman Moser and many others, to coincide with the celebrations in Vienna for the sixtieth anniversary of Emperor Francis Joseph I’s reign from June 1 to November 16 1908.
What picture represents Apollo kissing Daphne?
It has also been argued that in this picture Klimt represented the moment Apollo kisses Daphne, following the Metamorphoses of Ovid narrative.
Why did Klimt paint the kiss?
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.
What did Klimt see in the Church of San Vitale?
When he visited Ravenna he saw the Byzantine mosaics in the Church of San Vitale. For Klimt, the flatness of the mosaics and their lack of perspective and depth only enhanced their golden brilliance, and he started to make unprecedented use of gold and silver leaf in his own work.
What episode of Buffy does the kiss come from?
References to The Kiss. In " The Freshman ", the first episode of the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, several vampires display posters of The Kiss that they have stolen from students they killed, remarking on how common it is as a dorm room poster.
What is the man's face bent downward to kiss?
The man's face is not shown to the audience and instead, his face is bent downward to press a kiss to the woman's cheek, and his hands are cradling the woman's face. Her eyes are closed, with one arm wrapped around the man's neck, the other resting gently on his hand, and her face is upturned to receive the man's kiss.
When was the kiss painted?
The Kiss (in German Liebespaar, Lovers) is an oil painting, with added silver and gold leaf by the Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt, and was painted between 1907 and 1908 during the height of Klimt's "Golden Period".
Why is the background of the painting The Kiss a visual manifestation of fin de secle spirit?
Paintings such as The Kiss are visual manifestations of fin-de-siecle spirit because they capture a decadence conveyed by opulent and sensuous images.
What is Gustav Klimt's most famous painting?
The Kiss is probably Gustav Klimt’s most famous work. It is also the high point of the artist’s Gold Period, which was characterized by his use of gold leaf in his work. This painting is one in which Klimt deviated from his portrayal of dominant in women in the form of a femme fatale.
What is the Kiss by Gustav Klimt?
Gustav Klimt. ... The Kiss is probably Gustav Klimt’s most famous work. It is also the high point of the artist’s Gold Period , which was characterized by his use of gold leaf in his work. This painting is one in which Klimt deviated from his portrayal of dominant in women in the form of a femme fatale. Instead is the portrayal of love and art, ...
What are some examples of Klimt's themes?
Love, intimacy, and sexuality are common themes found in Gustav Klimt's works. The Stoclet Frieze and the Beethoven Frieze are such examples of Klimt's focus on romantic intimacy. Both works are precursors to The Kiss and feature the recurring motif of an embracing couple.
What did Klimt see in the Church of San Vitale?
When he visited Ravenna he saw the Byzantine mosaics in the Church of San Vitale. For Klimt, the flatness of the mosaics and their lack of perspective and depth only enhanced their golden brilliance, and he started to make unprecedented use of gold and silver leaf in his own work.
What style of painting is the painting of a couple embracing one another?
The painting depicts a couple embracing one another, 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.
A Brief Biography of The Painter of The Kiss, Gustav Klimt
The Kiss by Gustav Klimt: Historical Context
- We need to explore the historical context in which Klimt painted this controversial and beautiful piece. Gustav Klimt had 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 mystic…
A Closer Look at The Kiss
- The embracing couple takes center stage in this composition, with a dark and flat golden background framing them on either side. At the feet of the couple, we can see the edge of a flowery meadow beneath the woman’s bare feet. A flowing yellow dress decorated with organic floral patterns and circular shapes encapsulates the woman. The florals continue into her hair, a…
The Significance of The Kiss
- 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.
Interesting Facts You May Not Know About The Kiss
- We have covered much of the history and significance of this well-known painting. There are, however, some little-known facts about the piece and the artist that we think are particularly fascinating and add to the rich history of Klimt and his unique style. The Kiss (1907-1908) by Gustav Klimt; Gustav Klimt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Further Reading About Gustav Klimt and The Kiss
- It is not possible to fully explore the biography of Gustav Klimt in a single article. We have two book suggestions for those interested in learning more about the life and works of Klimt and the Art Nouveau movement. You can also learn more in our article about the most famous Gustav Klimt artworks.
The Golden Period of Klimt's Art
The Subject Matter of The Kiss by Klimt
- The subject matter of Gustav Klimt's The Kiss is rather simple – it depicts a couple locked in an intimate embrace on the edge of a flowery meadow. The couple and the surrounding landscape are exquisitely rendered in a two-dimensional pattern. The male figure, wearing a geometrically-printed robe, which suggests his dominant male force, and a crown of vines on his head, gently …
A Collision of Artistic Styles in The Kiss Painting
- The Kiss embodies a range of artistic styles in a remarkably harmonious way. The use of gold leaf is traced back to the Klimt's affinity for Byzantine art, which inspired the entire "Golden Period", while the spiral patterns in the clothes recall Bronze Age art, the decorative tendrils seen in Western art since before classical times, but also the ...
The Reception and Legacy
- The painting was created soon after Klimt's three-part Klimt University of Vienna Ceiling Paintings|Vienna Ceiling series, which resulted in a scandal for its controversial subject matter, being criticized as both "pornography" and evidence of "perverted excess". This has much affected the artist's career, recasting him as an enfant terriblefor his anti-authoritarian and anti-popularis…