What You Need To Know About The Kiss Paintings By Gustav Klimt

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt is often said to be one of the most famous works of the artist. The artwork depicts a scene of romance and affection, where a couple is in a loving embrace. Furthermore, the scene is heavily influenced by the symbolist doctrines which dictated many of Klimt’s works. With this in mind, here is what you need to know about The Kiss paintings produced by Klimt.

The artwork itself is showcased through heavy usage of gold leaf. The luxurious material was heavily incorporated in the piece after Klimt was inspired by a recent visit to see Byzantine mosaics. The scene shows the woman wearing a very detailed dress that features a pattern of flowers that flows beautifully downwards in the artwork. In addition, small details such as the fact that the man is wearing a crown created from vines, and the woman wears a crown created from flowers, adds further depth to the overall romantic imagery that is being portrayed by the work.

Considering the time in which the artwork was released, The Kiss was seen as a highly provocative piece of art. This is because many major publications at the time said that the work was highly suggestive, vulgar and even pornographic. However, this didn’t prevent people from enjoying the work. Although a segment of art critics at the time found the work to be distasteful, the many parts of the general public were quite enthused by the work. Hence, because of this reception, it was bought still unfinished for a price that is equivalent to a few thousand dollars in modern currency.

It is also worth noting that The Kiss is a particularly large painting, measuring six feet by six feet. This means that the overall image of affection that is conveyed is amplified significantly when the work is seen in person. Many people have stated that once they saw The Kiss for themselves, they were struck by just how powerful the imagery was when compared to their original assumptions about the painting.

Furthermore, another interesting fact about The Kiss is the fact that it was almost destroyed by German troops towards the conclusion of World War II. During the final stages of Germany during the war, many troops went to large art institutions, such as the University of Vienna and destroyed various artworks. The Kiss was lucky to have survived these operations, making it one of a few paintings of its kind to survive the war.

Overall, The Kiss is an iconic painting by Gustav Klimt that has withstood the test of time. Not only was it a highly controversial painting when it was first released, but it was also close to being destroyed during World War II. Because of these factors, the artwork can be said to have grown in its influence and power as each year has gone by. Lots of fans of Klimt often state that this work is the best depiction of the unique perspective of Gustav Klimt, everything from the gold leaf to the floral patterned dress make the piece truly iconic.