A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature
to stop speech when words become superfluous.
-- Ingrid Bergman
Throughout history, great kisses have inspired many a legendary song, poem, photograph and painting. Think about it -- how many songs can you think of that feature the word "kiss"? If you ponder it a moment, dozens will probably come to mind.
Some of art history's most famous artworks feature lovers kissing, like this classic Gustav Klimt image, entitled simply, "The Kiss":
This rich, ornate piece is arguably Klimt's most famous work of art. It was painted in 1907-08, and today appears reproduced on calendars, T-shirts, stickers, temporary tattoos and in all sorts of surprising places.
This black and white photograph taken in Times Square in New York City on Victory Day, after World War II ended, features another powerful pucker-up. The photograph, snapped by U.S. Navy photo journalist Victor Jorgensen, captures a passionate embrace between a returning sailor and a nurse -- who apparently did not know each other. Many people claim to be the man and woman shown in the photo, but to this day, the mystery has not been solved.
Going back to the mid 1800s, the following image beautifully captures a stolen moment between a young man and woman in a courtyard or castle in Italy. In that time period, the social mores dictated much higher levels of modesty for young lovers -- which makes this image (and the kiss it depicts!) all the more delicious.
Moving forward again to the 21st Century, this fourth and final image depicts a scene fraught with romantic tension: the moment just before a passionate kiss. The original painting is by Jack Vettriano and is aptly named. Vettriano himself is quite the romantic, and much of his work centers around lovers and their embraces.
In the mood for amore? Be sure to check out our Valentine's Day Art of Romance collection!
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