"The Art of the Kiss"

Van Hart "On=20 Art" Issue=20 #2 July 2008

Dear Friends,

Here's the second issue of my = newsletter. It was=20 fun to write, and hope you enjoy it enough to read it to the end, where = there is=20 a special offer awaiting you.

All the best,

Holly

The Art of The Kiss

This newsletter is about the art of "The = Kiss", and it's=20 rated PG for brief nudity. It's not about the art of = kissing,=20 which I'll gladly let someone else cover. It's about art depicting = a kiss,=20 which is apparently a very popular subject in art. =

Let's start with "The = Kiss" by Gustav=20 Klimt (Austrian artist, 1862-1918). This painting was = created in=20 oil and gold leaf, and is Klimt's most famous=20 work.

"The = Kiss", Gustav=20 Klimt

This painting has many interpretations, = ranging=20 from "the man is lost in the kiss (faceless and unidentifiable) while = the woman=20 is turning her head away and is aloof" to my preferred version = "represents how=20 bright, beautiful, and golden everything is when you kiss = someone". This=20 image was reproduced widely and even appeared on the 100 euro gold coin = issued=20 five years ago.

Another famous image of a kiss is Robert = Doisneau's "The=20 Kiss by the H=C3=B4tel de Ville". Robert Doisneau (1912-1994) was = a French=20 photographer noted for his depictions of Parisian = street=20 life. Doisneau's image is=20 considered one of the most romantic ever taken; it was first = printed as a=20 poster in 1986.

"The = Kiss by the=20 Hotel de Ville", Robert Doisneau

Predating both of these works was Auguste = Rodin's "The=20 Kiss". This sculpture contributed greatly = to Rodin's=20 reputation in his lifetime, and is one of his most reproduced = works. While=20 the two works above show a kiss actually taking place, Rodin's = sculpture shows the moment just before the kiss. It was created in = 1880,=20 during the time when he had an affair with Camille Claudel and = created=20 numerous sculptures of passionate couples.

Rodin's "The Kiss" uses nude figures and=20 was his most censored work. At an = exhibit=20 in England in 1913, it had to be draped with a sheet. In = Japan=20 in 1924, bamboo screens were placed around it.

Here's my version of "The Kiss" (rated PG), = inspired=20 by Rodin's sculpture:

"The Kiss", = Holly Van=20 Hart

As some of you know, I did a series of = watercolor=20 paintings based on Rodin's sculptures. "The Kiss" is my first oil = painting=20 in this series. You can read more = about it=20 in my new blog,=20 which is updated every week or so with a new=20 painting.

Thanks for reading this to the end. = Don't forget to give your loved one a big kiss = today!

Holly

Related links: "The Kiss" by Klimt= , Doisneau, Rodi= n,=20 and me <= /FONT>

Quote of the Day: "A=20 kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words = become=20 superfluous. " Ingrid Bergman

Congratulations to Elizabeth M, winner of the = drawing in=20 May for a set of note cards. The = note cards are=20 based on my paintings and are available for purchase online and (for = those of=20 you who are local) at the gift shop of Virtual Image Salon in Portola=20 Valley.

Special offer:

If you enter a comment in my new blog between = now and=20 July 20, your name will be entered in a drawing for a set of = notecards=20 or your choice of one of my oil sketches (subjects vary from still = lifes to=20 cityscapes to landscapes, and more). They are typically = 8"x10" or=20 11"x14", and can be framed to make a nice little piece of original=20 art.

Please spread the word! If you have = friends or=20 family who might be interested in this newsletter, feel free=20 to forward it to them.

Links:

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