The Kiss by Gustav Klimt
In the art exhibition of 1908, there was a painting on display in a room reserved for Klimt's pictures. This painting was entitled, 'Lovers' by Klimt himself but is generally known today as 'The Kiss'. Ludwig Hevesi, a critic of the time says, "This Klimt hhall at the exhibition is the most remarkable assortment seen in Vienna since Markart's Dumba Room. A purely painterly painting (The Kiss), not possible before markart, a specific phenomena of color.....THe Modern Gallery's new lovers standin a sea of flowers, like Homer's old Zeus on Mount Ida when hera embracd him once more and a carpet of flowers broke forht from the eart. And the lovers wear festive robes, just right for a festival of love. The whole world is festive again....The special Viennese modulation of feeling, newly arrived, is at long last to be recognized as the peoplpe begin to discover there's a place iin thier heart's for Klimt. Not long now and he'll be 'our Klimt'." Hevesi compared Klimt to Makart, Vienna had a new prince of painters. 'The Kiss' did not presesnt society with a scandal, as so many of Klimt's previous pictures had. On the contrary, the picture was recieved with enthusiasm frm the beginning, as is shown by how quickly it sold.
The woman again has her eyes closed, but her head is at the same level as his. The man's face is in shadow so his expression is unclear. His face is hidden behind her shoulder, only her face is visible. The wide-cut neck reveals the same reoccuring muscular back. Nothing of thier faces, or thier kiss can bee seen, but I think it's more important that it is felt. In the Beethoven Frieze the kiss signifies fufillment after the victory over the hostile powers. 'The Kiss', at a glance represents happiness and love. There is no actual kiss, but a tender embrace which is part of a whole, symbolizing growth, ripness and decay. As in 'Love', the two figures are shown from the side, but here the man is not larger then the woman. As in 'Philosophy' we see not a kiss but a tender embrace. The man is the strong, active, dominating partner; the woman is presented as the devoted, expectant oject. She has her arms around him, whie he bends down towards her.
Common topics in this essay:
Vienna Jugendstil,
Beethoven Frieze,
Mount Ida,
Makart Vienna,
,
Markart's Dumba,
Stoclet Frieze,
Ludwig Hevesi,
'the kiss',
Modern Gallery's,
Frieze Klimt,
woman eyes closed,
stoclet frieze,
tender embrace,
closed head,
eyes closed,
woman eyes,
meadow flowers,
lovers stand,
kiss tender embrace,
eyes closed head,
kiss tender,
beethoven frieze,
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Acceptance Essays
