THE KISS (RODIN SCULPTURE)

The Kiss is an 1889 marble sculptor by the French sculptor, Auguste Rodin. The embracing sculpture is a part of Rodin's monumental bronze portal called The Gates of Hell, which commissioned for a planned museum of art in Paris. The original named of the sculpture was Francesca da Rimini, which based on a truth story about a noblewoman named Francesca, who fell in love with her brother-in-law. Soon, Francesca's husband discovered the truth and finally, he killed his wife and his brother. The lovers ‘lips did not touch in the sculpture, which represented for the immoral love, the love that was interrupted and led to the death without their lips ever touched.

Rodin decided to sculptor the lovers naked because he hoped the viewers would have raw emotion toward the sculpture and also about the love that he tried to depict. According to artble.com, Rodin himself described The Kiss as: "... a theme frequently treated in the academic tradition, a subject complete in itself and artificially isolated from the world surrounding it; it is a great ornament sculpted according to the usual formula and which focuses attention on the two personages instead of opening up vast horizons to daydreams." The way Rodin constructed the twisted between the man and the woman made the viewers felt the composition of energy and movement of the lovers.

The passion and the romance of the lovers were undeniable. Their faces were barely showed because of their engagement in their actions. In their eyes, it was only their partner and their love which nothing can separate. The embracement of the couple made the tragedy of their love greater. Rodin exposed the romantic and sensual theme through the movement and the figures of the sculpture. Although their figures are nude, Rodin’s skills as an artist had made the sculpture were rendered in a classical way and was not overly sexual.

Moreover, Rodin expected his statue would bring the believable feeling to the viewers. He designed many of his sculptures and the Kiss in a particular way, which helped the viewers see the statue from every angle. The artist created this and made a sculpture which is visually stimulating from 360 degrees, which dedicated the skills of Rodin. The contrast between the smooth skin of the lovers and the rough marble of the rock they are sitting on adds further sensual elements to this piece.

In essence, the Kiss was hailed as a masterpiece when it was first exhibited in Paris in 1877 and even today it is still one of the most well-known and admired pieces of sculpture in the world. In creating this piece Rodin drew his experience to capture the mood of a particular moment and managed to create a sense of sensuality and romance.

 SUMMARY INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCULPTURE 

• Alternative Names:
• Francesca da Rimini
• Date of Creation:
• 1889
• Height (cm):
• 181.50
• Length (cm):
• 112.30
• Width (cm):
• 117.00
• Medium:
• Stone
• Subject:
• Figure
• Assisted By:
• Ganier, Rigaud and Mathet
• Art Movement:
• Impressionism
• Created By:
• Auguste Rodin
• Current Location:
• Paris, France
• Displayed at:
• Musée Rodin
• Owner:
• Musée Rodin