img688 Edvard Munch (1863-1944)
Edvard Munch – img688
Edit attribution
Download full size: 1408×1770 px (0,2 Mb)
Painter: Edvard Munch
Album navigation:
The painting "The Kiss" was painted by Edvard Munch in 1897. Like all of the scandalous artist’s works, this one also creates a dual impression. On the one hand, it looks bleak, repulsive and negative, despite the fact that it depicts a kiss. On the other hand, the picture wants to look and look, gradually revealing all its facets, all its secrets and mysteries. The plot of the picture is as follows: a couple in love, hidden behind a thin curtain, enjoying a kiss in the light of sevens, forgetting about everything in the world.
ArtClub
Best Contemporary Atists
Description of Edvard Munch’s painting "The Kiss"
The painting "The Kiss" was painted by Edvard Munch in 1897. Like all of the scandalous artist’s works, this one also creates a dual impression. On the one hand, it looks bleak, repulsive and negative, despite the fact that it depicts a kiss. On the other hand, the picture wants to look and look, gradually revealing all its facets, all its secrets and mysteries.
The plot of the picture is as follows: a couple in love, hidden behind a thin curtain, enjoying a kiss in the light of sevens, forgetting about everything in the world. Despite the fact that the situation is considered extremely racy, Munch has very delicately conveyed all the sensations. By distorting the space, he slightly modified the passion and intensity that were supposed to emanate from the lovers in electric waves.
Despite the relatively poor color scheme, the artist added color to some of the details. For example, the standout details of the women’s clothes in orange not only multiply the temperament of the picture, but also create around the couple a kind of flair, mystery and even fantasy.
But Edvard Munch’s main idea was to deprive the figures of outlines and faces. Despite this, he managed to give them plasticity and grace. The absence of faces is an encoding of information about the characters themselves in the painting. The most important thing is their experiences, emotions, feelings, not social status or any facial or figure features. After all, love must exist solely on a spiritual level.
Another detail of the painting is the silhouette of a man, which is visible through a small window. Edward Munch sort of separates, with the help of a curtain, real humanity and faceless, empty society. The only thing that matters here is the heat of passion, after all, the kiss itself, and everything else behind that small square of the room is silly, insignificant, and worthless.
You cannot comment Why?
A window is visible in the upper left quadrant, offering a stark contrast to the prevailing darkness. A vibrant, fiery glow emanates from beyond the glass, suggesting a world teeming with life or perhaps representing external forces that are inaccessible or overwhelming to the figure within. The light’s intensity creates a visual tension, highlighting the individuals separation and despair.
The color palette is dominated by somber tones – deep blacks, browns, and muted blues – which reinforce the atmosphere of melancholy and oppression. Brushstrokes appear agitated and expressive, contributing to the overall feeling of emotional unrest. There is a deliberate lack of detail in the figure’s rendering; they are not presented as an individual with specific characteristics but rather as an archetype of suffering.
The subtexts within this work revolve around themes of alienation, despair, and the struggle against overwhelming forces. The obscured face invites introspection on the nature of inner pain and the difficulty of expressing it. The window acts as a symbol of hope or escape, yet remains unattainable, emphasizing the figure’s entrapment. It is possible to interpret the fiery light as representing societal pressures, personal trauma, or simply the harsh realities of existence that weigh heavily upon the individual. Ultimately, the painting conveys a powerful sense of psychological distress and existential isolation.