To celebrate Valentine's day, we have selected seven of our favourite artistic representations of a kiss, a universal symbol of love, desire, devotion, lust and comfort.
'Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec 'In Bed: The Kiss' 1892
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec 'In Bed: The Kiss' 1892
The famous post-impressionist Toulouse-Lautrec's painting "In Bed: The Kiss' catches two young women in a moment of passion, as they embrace under the sheets. The lovers are thought to be prostitutes, their tender kiss a sign of genuine affection that is not shared with their clients.
Auguste Rodin's 'The Kiss' 1882
Auguste Rodin 'The Kiss' 1882
Rodin chose to depict a forbidden love for his sculpture 'The Kiss'. He took influence form the historical love story between Francesca da Rimini and her brother-in-law Paolo Malatesta, whose affair in turn also inspired the tale of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere - the book which is held by Paolo as he leans in to kiss his lover's waiting lips.
Marc Chagall's 'The Birthday' 1915
Marc Chagall 'The Birthday' 1915
Chagall's surrealist painting 'The Birthday' is void of the classic themes of eroticism and sensuality that is evident in most of our other picks for Valentine's Day. The painting was made the year he married his beloved wife Bella and seems to be a sweet homage to their relationship. The man in the painting is physically elevated by his sudden urge to kiss his unsuspecting love, who holds his now inferior gift of flowers.
Rene Magritte's 'The Lovers' 1929
Rene Magritte 'The Lovers' 1928
Magritte portrays two veiled figures attempting to kiss, mouths caught on their own cloth, rather than being able to feel their lover's lips. This painting has inspired many comments on a frustration with our inability to fully bond or unveil our true nature to our loved ones. The couple seem to desperately cling to one another, in hopes that they can repair their isolation with a deeper connection.
Francesco Hayez's 'Il Bacio' 1859
Francesco Hayez 'Il Bacio' 1859
Hayez used a pair of lovers in 'Il Bacio' to represent the unification between Italy and France during the 19th century, represented through the colour of their clothing that echoes the appropriate flags. Their youthful lust for one another hints at a fertile and healthy union between the two countries. An approaching shadow of a figure to the left of the canvas, alludes an opposition to the match, or possibly a threat to their relationship, but is now merely a bystander while this romantic embrace takes place.
Roy Litchenstein's 'Kiss V' 1964
Roy Lichtenstein's 'Kiss V' 1964
Lichtenstein's iconic cartoon painting 'Kiss V' is a far cry from the style of the other kiss paintings we have previously mentioned. The pop art, comic book style embrace is so dramatic and heartfelt, as if the two lovers are embracing for the very last time, completely engulfed by their emotions and their distress at the thought of being parted. Although the colours are so bright and vivid, they juxtapose against the emotional and traumatic sentiments felt by the subjects of Lichtenstein's piece.
Gustav Klimt's 'The Kiss'
Gustav Klimt 'The Kiss' 1907/08
We were lucky enough to see probably the most famous kiss in art history, Gustav Klimt's spectacular masterpiece 'The Kiss' on our trip to Vienna's Belvedere museum. No matter how many times you have seen this painting reproduced, it doesn’t quite prepare you for seeing it in real life. The gold-leaf covered painting, glistens in the light, drawing you in. It's as if you can no longer see everything else around you, you are just so entranced and mesmerised by the spectacle in front of you. This was the first time we had ever experienced such an overwhelming sense of awe from seeing a piece of artwork before.
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