The Kiss, 1897
Oil on canvas
99 x 81 cm

"In my art I have tried to explain to myself life and its meaning I have also tried to help others to clarify their lives." (E.M.)

Related Works

The Kiss (woodcut)
Starry Night

Your Comments

Katrina Kline wrote on Feb 26, 2002:

You cannot just glance at this picture. You are entrapped with staring at it. This magnificent piece of artwork makes you want a type of love that these two lovers share. This picture has all of the desires: passion, drama, and most of all true love.

Seana Mickol wrote on Feb 22, 2002:
Preference
I enjoy this painting, however if anyone has a chance the view the original sketch, I highly suggest it. The original sketch is of the same two figures, only they are not clothed. I don't know why, but it takes on a whole different meaning. This may be perceived as disturbing, but I prefer it a lot more that way. It is so much more raw, pure, honest. The couple in the original is kissing in their window sill in what appears to be morning or midday. They are not concerned with the world around them they are absolved in the moment with themselves and their love. It is a fantastic piece and I thoroughly enjoy it.

Tabitha wrote on Nov 4, 2001:

This picture is my favorite of all Munch's love themed works. It expresses both the unity of two lovers with the faces, and also the isolation of love. There is nothing else that they can see or be torn from. This particular work, like many of his, Munch painted the same basic picture many times over. While this one is nice, I really prefer the black and white full length version where the characters are nude. It is much more dramatic.

[Somebody] wrote on Feb 3, 2001:

The first thing Inoticed were the faces. They were blank and blended together, forming one image - something perhaps love of 'the kiss' does to people. The artist shows this well.

Ollie wrote on Mar 6, 2001:

A truly great painting, showing the love between two people in a single kiss, so much they seem to share this love and moment. Incredibly painted, especially the contrast between objects, but not in the faces.

Patricia Marcos wrote on Mar 11, 2001:
The power and unification.
This painting is one of the great Munch masterpieces, like all his paintings it shows the power and intensity of the two lovers that is almost impossible to describe in a more faithful way. How far can these two lovers go, the painting creeps into us, it gains a life of its own and creates a heavy and powerful atmosphere, not allowing anyone to feel indifferent to the admirable union of the two lovers, but forcing the viewer to penetrate in its unique strength and therefore to be devoured by its strength, eaten alive forever buried with the ashes of the everlasting unifying kiss.

H.F. wrote on Mar 18, 2001:
The "Claro-Oscuro" Technique.
Edvard reveals our life's darkest passions and desires against the rightfulness ones... and then I ask myself, which ones are the rightfulness ones? Excellent technique and universal message.

Renee Kasprzyk wrote on Mar 26, 2001:
Comments on The Kiss...
The blending of the two faces in this picture is a symbol of how when two people are in love, they lose their own identity and meld into one. There is nothing sweet or loving about this piece, for Munch did not look very highly on women and had a negative view on love. I really enjoy the darkness of his pieces, you can almost feel the pain, and the inner conflict within his own mind.

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Credits

Picture: Edvard Munch: The Frieze of Life.