Der Kuss (Liebespaar)
Gustav Klimt, 1908 (vollendet 1909)
About this artwork
Gustav Klimt's *Der Kuss (Liebespaar)*, completed in 1909, stands as the crowning jewel of his Golden Phase, a pinnacle of Vienna Secession artistry. Painted without a specific commission around 1907–1908, this monumental 180 × 180 cm square canvas captures an intimate couple locked in an eternal embrace on the edge of a blooming meadow. Their bodies seem to merge into one, distinguished only by the intricate, contrasting patterns on their robes, all enveloped in a radiant golden halo that symbolizes unity and transcendence. Klimt's revolutionary technique elevates the work: the figural area gleams with real gold, silver, and platinum leaf applied over oil-resin paints on primed canvas, while the background shimmers with brass particles glazed and flecked with metal. Debuted as *Liebespaar* at the 1908 Kunstschau exhibition, it was swiftly purchased by the Austrian Ministry for the Moderne Galerie—now the Belvedere in Vienna—for a then-record sum, later retitled *Der Kuss* in a 1909 catalog. Today, this iconic painting embodies eroticism, opulence, and modernist innovation, drawing millions to marvel at its luminous allure and Klimt's fusion of symbolism with decorative splendor. A timeless ode to love, it remains one of the world's most beloved masterpieces.