The Kiss: A Celebration of Love in Art

Whether delicate and tender or passionate and intense, the kiss transcends time, cultures, moral boundaries, and sometimes even life itself. Although undoubtedly the art world's best-known contributors, Rodin and Klimt are far from the only artists to have dedicated their work to this theme. A symbol of passion but equally of transgression and death, the kiss has been widely depicted throughout the history of art. Found in decorative patterns dating from the antiquities and in the most diverse forms of contemporary art alike, it represents one of the greatest legendary motifs. From Hayez's medieval kissers clutched in a stormy embrace to Klimt's iconic symbolist painting to Picasso's ethereal cubist couple, the kiss is hardly ever depicted without a subtext, and this book explains the ardent undertones of some two hundred of the world's greatest masterpieces. The kiss is analyzed in the context of various art forms, such as Rodin's exquisite sculpture depicting Dante's infamous Paolo and Francesca, Brancusi's abstract statue of two unidentified figures, or Andy Warhol's celebrated film of kisses shared by couples of all orientations. This handsome volume spans the ages, demonstrating how the concept of the kiss is common to all humanity. Serge Bramly's erudite text is analytical and evocative, and it is enriched with both scholarly descriptions and poetic anecdotes.