“The Kiss”
This gorgeous marble sculpture, titled “The Kiss,” was made circa 1882 by the French Realism artist, Auguste Rodin. It was commissioned by the French government in 1888 for the Exhibition Universelle. Prior to the marble version shown here, Rodin created several smaller versions in plaster and bronze. The kissing couple were originally depicted as a relief in a portal made by Rodin titled “The Gates of Hell,” along with a figure that became the inspiration for “The Thinker”. The portal was supposed to serve as the entrance to an art museum that was never built.
The figures depicted in “The Kiss” are two characters from Dante’s Divine Comedy, Francesca and Paolo. In the story, Francesca and Paolo fall in love after reading the story of Lancelot and Guinevere, which is unfortunate as Paolo is Francesca’s husband’s younger brother. In the sculpture, Paolo is still holding the book in his hand. The moment Rodin captured is just as the lovers’ kiss, which is just before Francesca’s husband discovers them and kills them both.
After this piece was first exhibited, many critics saw the sexuality of it as controversial. However, the general public loved it, and several copies were commissioned afterwards, including several bronze versions. It was displayed at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, but due to its controversial nature, was displayed in an interior location that could only be viewed by those who applied for it.
The statue was originally titled “Francesca da Rimini” but was renamed in 1887 to “The Kiss”. “The Kiss” is said to be partially inspired by his model/muse/assistant, Camille Claudel, who became a well-known sculptor in her own right.
“The Kiss” is currently on display at the Musée Rodin in Paris, France.
For more on Auguste Rodin, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
