The Kiss
The Kiss (El Beso) c1859 by Italian Painter Francesco Hayez (1791 – 1882); was viewed as the leading painter of the Romanticism Period in the mid 19th Century in Milan Italy. He was well known for his grand historical paintings, political allegories and exceptional fine portraits.
“The Kiss” is a powerful and evocative painting by the renowned Italian artist Francesco Hayez, created in 1859. The artwork is a stunning example of Romanticism, a movement that was characterized by an emphasis on intense emotion, individualism, and the sublime. Hayez’s portrayal of an intimate and passionate kiss between two figures is not just a romantic gesture but a deep, symbolic act reflecting the political and social turmoil of 19th-century Italy.
In this piece, the central focus is the kiss shared between a man and a woman, each dressed in period-specific attire, their bodies entwined in a tender yet fervent embrace. The lovers’ faces, captured at the moment of their kiss, convey an overwhelming sense of passion and longing. The man, dressed in a reddish-brown cloak, holds the woman with one hand, while his other hand grips a green object, possibly symbolizing life or hope. His face is partially obscured by his hat, but the tension in his posture reveals both his deep affection for the woman and the sense of urgency that seems to pervade the scene.
The woman, clothed in a flowing blue gown, stands close to him, her body pressed against his in a stance that signifies emotional and physical closeness. Her long, flowing hair is partially visible, her face bathed in the soft light that seems to emanate from the left, highlighting her delicate features. The deep emotional intensity in her expression, coupled with the almost sacred nature of the kiss, suggests that this moment is one of profound importance for both characters. The sensuality of the kiss is palpable, yet it is underscored by a sense of melancholy, as if this act of love must be performed in secrecy, or perhaps as a final farewell.
The setting of the artwork is crucial to understanding the deeper layers of its meaning. The scene takes place in an open, stone-walled interior, with towering, almost monolithic walls that loom over the lovers. These walls are not merely a backdrop but symbolize the oppression and constraints of the era, particularly in the context of Italy’s political situation. The rough, unfinished stone surfaces hint at a time of transition and struggle.
The archway in the background frames the lovers, emphasizing their isolation in the moment and their vulnerability to the outside world. The positioning of the couple in front of the stone walls may also allude to the notion of love as a fortress in a time of uncertainty or political strife, where their embrace provides a form of protection from the harsh reality beyond.
The colors in the painting are rich and symbolic. The warm tones of the man’s cloak contrast with the cooler blues and whites of the woman’s gown, signifying a balance between opposing forces—passion and purity, action and passivity. The use of light is also notable; the couple is illuminated from one side, casting shadows on their bodies and the environment around them. This creates a sense of intimacy and draws the viewer’s attention solely to the couple, ensuring that the emotional intensity of their embrace remains the focal point of the composition.
In terms of materials, the painting is executed with oil on canvas, a traditional medium that allows Hayez to achieve a remarkable level of detail and depth in his figures and surroundings. The texture of the canvas is almost palpable, with the brushstrokes contributing to the tactile nature of the painting. The artist’s skillful manipulation of light and shadow gives the piece a three-dimensional quality, making it feel as though the viewer could step into the scene and experience the emotional weight of the kiss firsthand.
The overall theme of “The Kiss” is one of passion, defiance, and longing. The moment captured is not simply a tender exchange between two lovers; it is an act of rebellion and a declaration of love against the backdrop of an oppressive society. At the time Hayez painted this work, Italy was undergoing significant political upheaval, as various regions were striving for unification and freedom from foreign domination.
The kiss, then, can be seen as a metaphor for the struggle for independence, with the lovers representing the spirit of resistance and the hope for a brighter, freer future. The kiss is not just an emotional act but a political statement, an expression of the deep desire for change that resonated with the people of Italy during the Romantic period.
The mood of the painting is complex and multi-layered. While it captures the intense passion of the lovers, it also evokes a sense of sorrow and longing. The lovers are caught in a moment of transcendence, but there is a sense that this moment is fleeting.
The raw emotion conveyed through their embrace suggests that their love is either forbidden or destined to end, making the act of kissing both a sweet and painful experience. The viewer is left to ponder whether the kiss signifies the beginning of a relationship, a final farewell, or a stolen moment in a turbulent world.
In conclusion, Francesco Hayez’s “The Kiss” is not just a beautiful depiction of love and romance; it is a rich, symbolic painting that speaks to the political, social, and emotional climate of its time. The work’s exquisite use of light, color, and composition, combined with its deep thematic resonance, makes it a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate viewers. It invites reflection on the nature of love, the power of passion, and the struggles that shape our world, all while celebrating the profound connection between two individuals caught in the midst of history.
The Kiss is a retouched digital art old masters reproduction of a public domain image that is available as an acrylic, metal, wood, rolled and canvas print online.
Info Below From Wikipedia.org
Francesco Hayez was from a relatively poor family from Venice. His father, Giovanni, was of French origin while his mother, Chiara Torcella, was from Murano. Francesco was the youngest of five sons.
He was brought up by his mother’s sister, who had married Giovanni Binasco, a well-off shipowner and art collector. Hayez displayed a predisposition for drawing since childhood. His uncle, having noticed his precocious talent, apprenticed him to an art restorer in Venice. Hayez would later became a pupil of the painter Francesco Maggiotto with whom he continued his studies for three years.
He was admitted to the painting course of the New Academy of Fine Arts in Venice in 1806, where he studied under Teodoro Matteini. In 1809 he won a competition from the Academy of Venice for a one year residency at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome.
He remained in Rome until 1814, then moved to Naples where he was commissioned by Joachim Murat to paint a major work depicting Ulysses at the court of Alcinous. In the mid-1830s he attended the Maffei Salon in Milan, hosted by Clara Maffei. Maffei’s husband would later commissioned Hayez a portrait of his wife. In 1850 Hayez was appointed director of the Brera Academy.
Over the course of a long career, Hayez proved to be particularly prolific. His output included historic paintings designed to appeal to the patriotic sensibility of his patrons as well as works reflecting the desire to accompany a Neoclassic style to grand themes, either from biblical or classical literature.
He also painted scenes from theatrical presentations. Conspicuously absent from his oeuvre, however, are altarpieces – possibly due to the Napoleonic invasions that deconsecrated many churches and convents in Northern Italy. Art historian Corrado Ricci described Hayez as a classicist who then evolved into a style of emotional tumult. Francesco Hayez, The Kiss (1859)
His portraits have the intensity of Ingres and the Nazarene movement. Often sitting, Hayez’s subjects are often dressed in austere, black and white clothing, with little to no accoutrements. While Hayez made portraits for the nobility, he also explored other subjects like fellow artists and musicians. Late in his career, he is known to have worked using photographs.
One of Hayez’s favorite themes was semi-clothed Odalisque evocative of oriental themes – a favorite topic of Romantic painters.[3] The depictions of harems and their women allowed artists the ability to paint scenes otherwise not acceptable within society. Even Hayez’s Mary Magdalene has more sensuality than religious fervor.
Hayez’s painting The Kiss was considered among his best work by his contemporaries, and is possibly his most well-known effort. The anonymous, unaffected gesture of the couple does not require knowledge of myth or literature to interpret, and appeals to a modern gaze.
A scientific assessment of Hayez’s career has been made complicated by his proclivity for not signing or dating his works. Often dates in his paintings indicate when the work was acquired or sold, not the time of its creation. Moreover, he often painted the same compositions several times with minimal variations if any at all.
Among his pupils from the Brera Academy were Carlo Belgioioso, Amanzio Cattaneo, Alessandro Focosi, Giovanni Battista Lamperti, Livo Pecora, Angelo Pietrasanta, Antonio Silo, Carlo Antonio Tavella, Ismaele Teglio Milla and Francesco Valaperta.
Hayez died in Milan, age 91. His studio at the Brera Academy is marked with a plate.
