Friday, August 8, 2008

Gustav Klimt

The Kiss:


Klimt is a member of the Vienna Secession movement. We visited the main building of the movement when I was there, and Elizabeth Bennett strongly recommended me this picture (in fact, she insisted that I buy a postcard of this picture, which I duly did, and now it is framed by my bed).


This is really a lovely picture. Part of what I love is the way in which Klimt emphasizes the masculine/feminine differences--the man is more bronzed and stronger, the woman pale and slight; she is curved and covered with flowers, while he has laurels in his hair. We see that she is fruitful--there are golden vines growing from her. The play of patterns is simply delightful.








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