Post-Impressionist painter and graphic designer Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is known for his posters, prints, and paintings of turn-of-the-century Paris. 1892-1893 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain) Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, “In Bed, The Kiss,” c. In Bed, The Kiss by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec While the late artist had a love-hate relationship with the wildly popular series (he famously said, “It was a marvelous idea, but it was also a terrible mistake”), they will undoubtedly continue to inspire romantics for years to come. Over the years, Indiana's sculptures have taken on a lovey-dovey life of their own. “I, as a child, was raised as a Christian Scientist,” Indiana explained in a letter to an art collector, “and the world LOVE was indelibly imprinted in the mind, for there is that slightly different phrase, ‘God is Love,' on every front wall of every one of Mary Baker Eddy’s houses throughout the world.” Therefore, it is not surprising that the motif's origins are actually rooted in Indiana's religious upbringing. In fact, Indiana came up with the familiar design-characterized by a stacked set of seraph letters spelling out the word, “LOVE”-for the Museum of Modern Art's holiday card. While these Pop Art pieces have taken on a romantic meaning, their original intention was less Valentine's Day-related and more in the Christmas spirit. Since 1970, Robert Indiana's large-scale Love sculptures have popped up in cities around the world. Robert Indiana, “Love” Stock Photos from Christian Mueller/Shutterstock) Much like the painting itself, their relationship is shrouded in a glittering mystery. However, today, the couple is widely believed to have been inspired by the artist and his companion (and perhaps lover) Emilie Flöge, a Viennese fashion designer. Klimt never disclosed the identities of the figures.

With her eyes peacefully closed, the woman wraps her arms around him, accepting and anticipating her lover's kiss. As they kneel in an otherworldly garden, the man leans in to kiss his partner, delicately cradling her face and running his hand through her flower-embellished hair. The Kiss shows a loving couple mid-embrace. The Kiss embodies this ethereal approach, and highlights another one of Klimt's interests: portraying intimate subject matter. During this luminous period, Klimt experimented with his work, crafting avant-garde paintings with pronounced planes, intricate patterns, and delicate detailing made of gold leaf. Gustav Klimt, “The Kiss,” 1907-1908 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain)Īustrian artist Gustav Klimt painted The Kiss at the height of his Golden Phase.

Art & fear by david bayles