Exactly one hundred and two years ago the artist, Gustav Klimti passed away in Vienna. The work, exhibited at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere in Vienna, is considered, not coincidentally, one of the greatest masterpieces of all time, and the description of the kiss is one of the most famous ever. The painter Gustav Klimt died at the age of 56 on February 6, 1918. Among the 220 canvases we already know, he has also produced 55 landscapes, taking as decoration mainly Attersee, the serenity of which conflicts with the rest of his work. Inspired by embellishment, he turns gold into the raw material of his paintings – a taste probably inspired by his father who worked as a jeweler./Konica.al
The birth of a masterpiece
It was 1907 when Gustav Klimt began working with “The Kiss”, perhaps still unaware of the importance of later works in art history. This is the year that will become one of the most productive in the life of the painter, devoting in addition to “Kiss”, also the portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I. It is said that the artist used to start working in the studio early in the morning, without taking vacations and until late in the evening. The studio floor was completely covered with countless sketches and sketches of the work. A not easy period for the artist, who constantly complained about the fatigue that that work caused him. From a letter, later written by the artist himself, he reveals all his anxiety: “Either I’m too old, or too nervous, or too stupid – one of these, sooner or later, for sure.” The theme of the loving couple, along with that of kissing, engaged Klimt throughout the course of his life, with variations on the theme that will accompany him to death. The assertion of the “Golden Age” in his work culminates in “The Kiss”, after a visit to the city of Ravenna, which will allow the artist to get acquainted with Byzantine mosaics.
The ecstasy of abandonment
The painting is an oil canvas, a perfectly romantic picture without being sweetened, modern without appearing unrecognizable and above all precious. The picture shows a couple tight in a passionate hug. The male figure bends over the female, so the woman climbs behind the man to get his kiss. The theme of embrace has been addressed several times by the artist, but only in this painting does he manage to perpetuate the moment of detachment, in which the male universe merges with the female universe. Both figures are depicted in an abstract and ethereal place, surrounded by a meadow covered with flowers. To be illustrated is the triumph of eros and its power to harmonize conflicts between men and women. This concept is well expressed through the gestures of the two lovers. The abandonment of the woman in his hands runs counter to the strong and secure control of the man, whose profile is barely visible. The male image is accompanied, on a decorative level, by square and rectangular shapes. However, for the female figure, floral lines and patterns predominate. At the same time, the couple seems to detach themselves from this part of the terrestrial world and are snatched up in a formal, spaceless atmosphere that actually brings to mind Byzantine mosaics in the gilded background. Many have tried to identify the female figure described in the work. The name of Klimt’s best friend is mentioned several times. The regular and well-proportioned features show one more resemblance to the women portrayed by Klimt, although they do not accurately trace any figure in particular./Konica.al
The Climate Kiss reappears in homage to a painter who donated to the modern world one of the most beautiful paintings of human kissing in art history. His life, often overlooked, is revealed in his paintings, portraits of women sometimes desirable, sometimes greedy in silent landscapes./Konica.al
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