Artwork
The Kiss
The Kiss is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1899, *The Kiss* is a tempera painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents an intimate encounter between a man and a woman whose faces are drawn together in a moment of anticipation. The composition is set against a subdued background, and the figures are rendered with visible brushwork that conveys a sense of motion.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a fleeting instant of closeness, with the woman's hair pulled back and her dark dress contrasting against the man's partially hidden profile. The proximity of the two bodies suggests an emotional tension that aligns with Munch’s preoccupation with psychological states and personal relationships.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting employs a muted palette and loose, expressive brushstrokes characteristic of Munch’s post‑impressionist approach. The texture of the medium allows for subtle tonal variations, while the visible strokes add a tactile quality that heightens the sense of immediacy in the figures’ interaction.
History & Provenance
Munch produced *The Kiss* during a period when his work was increasingly shaped by his studies at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania and the ideas of contemporary nihilist writers. The painting entered the collection of the Munch Museum, where it remains part of the permanent holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
