Key Features

Medium and Technique

The painting is an oil on canvas work with the addition of gold leaf, silver, and platinum. Klimt's use of gold leaf, a technique he mastered partly due to his father being a goldsmith, gives the painting its distinctive luxurious and shimmering quality

Dimensions and Location

The painting measures 180 x 180 cm and is housed in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere in Vienna, Austria

Composition and Symbolism

The painting depicts a couple in an intimate embrace, kneeling on a flower meadow. The figures are wrapped in elaborate robes decorated with geometric and floral patterns. The man's robe features rectangular, black-and-white geometric patterns symbolizing strength and virility, while the woman's robe is adorned with floral, rounded motifs representing maternity and femininity. The faces of the lovers are softly modeled, with the man's face bent downward to kiss the woman's cheek. Only their faces, hands, and the woman's shoulders and feet are visible in detail, while the rest of their bodies are covered by flat decorative elements. The background is a flat, golden plane that evokes a cosmic or mystical atmosphere, blending the lovers into an infinite golden fog

Artistic Style and Influences

The Kiss epitomizes the Art Nouveau style, with its intricate patterns and organic forms influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement. The use of gold leaf and the simplified composition also reflect influences from Byzantine mosaics and Japanese art

Exhibition and Reception

The painting was first exhibited in 1908 at the Kunstschau art exhibition in Vienna under the title 'Liebespaar' (Lovers). It was an immediate success and was purchased by the Austrian Ministry of Education during the exhibition. It later appeared at the 1911 International Exhibition of Art in Rome, where it was already known as The Kiss

Identity of the Lovers

The identities of the two figures in the painting are not definitively known. Speculations include that Klimt and his companion Emilie Flöge might have modeled for the work, or that the female figure could be based on the model known as 'Red Hilda' or even Austrian composer Alma Mahler, though there is no concrete evidence to support these claims

Cultural Significance

The Kiss is considered a masterpiece of Vienna Secession and European modern art. It captures themes of love, intimacy, and sensuality, which were common in Klimt's works. The painting's opulent and sensuous imagery reflects the fin-de-siecle spirit and has made it one of the most popular and widely recognized pieces of early 20th-century art.