The Kiss (Klimt painting)

The Kiss is an Art Nouveau oil painting by Gustav Klimt created between 1907 and 1908. It was exhibited in 1908 under the title Liebespaar (the lovers). The painting has been referenced in popular media, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Shutter Island among others and is frequently imitated in fanart, both in pose and in style.
Previous works such as Fulfilment, a sketch for the Brussels Stoclet Frieze and the Beethoven Frieze are precursors to The Kiss and feature the recurring motif of an embracing couple. It is thought that Klimt and his companion Emilie Flöge modeled for the work,Klimt by Gilles Neret, 57 but there is no evidence or record to prove this. Others suggest the female was the model known as 'Red Hilda'.
==Essays/articles on The Kiss and why it is is popular==
* , meta on why it is so powerful
* The longer you look, the darker it gets: reassessing Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss, report questioning whether The Kiss was a scene of aggression or love
==Fannish Views on fanart based on the Kiss==
===Favorable comments===
Fans have commented approvingly on the ubiquity of fanart based on the The Kiss across fandoms representing a wide variety of genres. Some have joked that the existence of such works serves as an informal litmus test for whether a pairing should be regarded as popular or rare.
===Unfavorable comments===
Others have expressed less favourable views of fanart imitations of The Kiss, with some finding find them overdone, not suited to every ship, or generally disliking the original painting.
==Fanart by Fandom==
The Addams Family
* by cookiekappa (Gomez/Morticia, 2023)
The Ancient Magus' Bride
* by ellenipo (Chise x Elias, 2020)
ASoIaF/Game of Thrones
* by aijigoku (Jon/Daenerys, 2018)
* by aksarte (Jon/Daenerys, 2019)
* by diazeram (Jon/Daenerys, year drawn unknown)
* by immyw (Jon/Daenerys, 2021)
* by xMorfina92 (Jon/Daenerys, 2019)
* by wolvesofspring (Jon/Sansa, year drawn unknown)
Baldur's Gate
* by falmarindecarme (Astarion/Gale, 2023)
* by Kashkadavr (Astarion/Tav, 2021)
Beauty and the Beast (Disney)
* by Sommum (Belle/Beast, 2014)
Berserk
* by morze-ma (Guts/Casca, 2023)
* by Stephane-Piovan-Draw (Guts/Casca, 2023)
A Court of Thorns and Roses
* by jessamyart (Feyre/Rhysand, 2023)
Critical Role
* by eyezpike (Beau/Yasha, 2022)
* by curlytale (Fjord/Jester, 2020)
Dangan Ronpa
* by eliotvlunogord (Hagakure x Togami, 2022)
DC Comics
* by char0077 (Batman/Catwoman, 2017)
* by brettbennett (Joker/Harley Quinn, 2015)
Doctor Who
* by aluvsblu (Nine/Rose, 2024)
* by kellyerosen (Thirteen/Yaz, 2022)
* by anaquariusfox (Ten/Rose, 2023)
Dragon Age
* by cansofbees (Adoribull, 2020)
* by R-r-ricko (Anders with his cat, 2015)
* by prismavore (Cullen/Inquisitor, 2015)
* by laccertilia (Fenris/OC, 2017)
* by SineAlas (Iron Bull/Inquisitor, 2015)
* by nipuni (Solas/Inquisitor, 2017)
* by Widdershins-Sorks (Solas/Inquisitor, 2015)
Dungeons & Dragons
* by caemidraws, 2024
Genshin Impact
* by Neutron-Quasar (Venti/Lumine, 2022)
* by xKashikix (Arlecchino/Columbina, 2023)
* by sunhreis (Tao/Yanfei, 2022)
God of War
* by salmonpiffy (Kratos/Laufey, 2022)
Golden Kamuy
* by beto-aka-beta (Ogata x Sugimoto, 2020)
* by Reman_Kamuy (Tsurumi x Usami, 2020)
Good Omens
* by nathengyn (Aziraphale/Crowley, 2019)
* by sjatty (Aziraphale/Crowley, 2023)
* by spookynadja (Aziraphale/Crowley, 2022)
* by sketching-fox on tumblr (October, 2023)
Harry Potter
* by hogwartsresidentdramaqueen (Remus/Sirius, 2021)
* by lunopal (Remus/Sirius, 2021)
* by thematicallycoherent (Remus/Sirius, 2021)
Heaven Official's Blessing
* by meru90 (BeefLeaf, 2023)
Howl's Moving Castle
* by kclub (Howl/Sophie, 2019)
* by Andrea Tamme, aka lothlenan (Howl/Sophie, 2018)
InuYasha
* by DzoaraTheNightWolf (Inuyasha/Kagome), 2021)
* by katballesteros (Inuyasha/Kagome, 2023)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
* by LetsGoPastel (Jotakak), 2017)
Labyrinth (1986)
* by daturanyx (Jareth/Sarah, 2017)
Legend of Zelda
* by keikbird (Link/Zelda, 2022)
* by Susan Lau (Link/Zelda, 2014)
* by xMurmaid (Link/Zelda, 2019)
* by helmarocking (Midna/Zelda, 2018)
Lore Olympus
* (Hades/Persephone, 2022)
The Locked Tomb
* (reddit link) by may1234 (Griddlehark, 2022)
Malevolent
* by iconsumethesoulsofthedamned, 2024 -- Arthur/John
* by thedoodlebuggo, 2024 -- Jarthur
* by Daniela Astone, 2024 -- Jarthur again
* -- still Jarthur in (May-June) 2024) -- artists include nyxfaei, izel-scribbles, koszmarnybudyn, potato-lord-but-not, ganem-ouchie, iconsumethesoulsofthedamned, dyke-in-crisis, splicerparade
Mario
* by mystar21 (Daisy/Waluigi, 2022)
Marvel Comics/MCU
* by bonesbunns (Wanda/Vision, 2021)
* by cassandra4 (Wanda/Vision, 2019)
* by cassandra4 (Wanda/Vision, 2019)
* by darthfilart (Wanda/Vision, 2021)
* by shaarpieh (Wanda/Vision, 2022)
* by eddie_br0ke (Symbrock/[[Edi, 2024)
Mo Dao Zu Shi
* by pzxce (WangXian, 2020)
* by dangerliesbeforeyou (WangXian, 2020)
* by cyandemise (Nie Mingjue/Jin Guangyao, 2023)
* by delcarmenart (WangXian, 2023)
* by ottiedot (WangXian, 2023)
Naruto
* by sasu-chuu (Naruto/Hinata, 2015)
* by AlaskaChristin (Sasuke/Sakura, 2022)
One Piece
* by TakkaRULZFanArt (Oden x Toki, 20XX)
Our Flag Means Death
* by auchaczer (Blackbonnet, 2022)
* by KLHprints (Blackbonnet, 2023)
* by koffeekam (Blackbonnet, 2022)
* by ladyofthebruinen (Blackbonnet, 2023)
* by waddle-avocado (Blackbonnet, 2022)
The Owl House
* by smolmushroomm (Raine/Eda, 2023)
Percy Jackson
* by yssai-nne (Percabeth, 2022)
* by popielica (Solangelo, 2021)
Sailor Moon
* by missypena (Uranus/Neptune, 2016)
* by momoiro-hime (Uranus/Neptune, 2022)
* by Rinji-chan101 (Usagi/Mamoru, 2021)
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
* by leelajun (Jun/Qinghua, 2023)
Shadowhunters
* by illolila (James/Cordelia, 2021)
She-Ra
* by aoiveaeart (Catradora), 2023)
* by giannalikesramen (Catradora, 2020)
Sonic the Hedgehog
* by Day-Dream-Fever (Sonic/Shadow, 2015)
Star Trek
* by spockl (Kirk/Spock, 2015)
* by thetimetostrikeislater (Kirk/Spock, 2018)
Star Wars
* by Kaebaine (Anakin/Padmé, 2021)
* by Hadollam (Anakin/Padmé, 2023)
* by ToscaSam (Anakin/Padmé, 2020)
* by TheTrueGypsyQueen (Han/Leia, 2017)
* by PangolinPirate (Kylux, 2017)
* by nataly-leyton (Reylo, 2020)
* by tiny_jedi (Reylo, 2022)
* by verauko (Reylo, 2016)
* by Rachel Xin (Reylo, 2020)
Stranger Things
* by disjointed-art (Steddie, 2023)
* by noxarcanaart (Steddie, 2023). This art is featured in however wild, a popular Steddie fic on Archive of Our Own.
Supernatural
* by dedicatedtocas (Dean/Castiel, 2023)
* by dedicatedtocas,sccredhead, jewwu, deanspurpleflannel, dadcas, artxghoul, jununy, uvgroovy 
Tangled: The Series
*by athenacyikes (Cassandra/Rapunzel, 2022)
* by stellesappho (Cassandra/Rapunzel, 2021)
Tolkien
* by maalidoesart (Maedhros/Fingon, 2022)
Transformers
* (Megatron/Starscream, 2024)
* (Megatron/Optimus Prime, 2024)
The Vampire Chronicles
* by Killer_Laurent (Armand/Marius, 2023)
Voltron: Legendary Defender
* by mondaijo (Sheith, 2018)
The Witcher
* by snovaaprel (Geralt/Jaskier, 2020)
* by IzanamiNu (Geralt/Yennefer, 2023)
The X-Files
*Mulder and Scully - Klimt by Franca Bassino (Mulder/Scully, year unknown)
* (Mulder/Scully, 2016)
Word of Honor
* by maalidoesart (Wen/Zhou, 2023)
== Gallery (Alphabetical by Fandom) ==
File:Der Biss by 1-084.jpg|Fanart of the 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula fanart by 1-084 (2016).
File:Disney and Klimt by GabiSaKuRa.jpg|Disney fanart by GabiSaKuRa of Mickey and Minnie (2012).
File:The Kiss by Barnabyy.jpg|Devilman Crybaby fanart by Barnabyy (2018).
File:The Kiss by SerpentsShipmate.jpg|Dragon Age art by SerpentsShipmate – Fenris with a female Hawke (Fenris/Hawke, 2017).
File:May The Dread Wolf Talk You by monstertree-art.jpg|Dragon Age fanart by monstertree-art – Solas with a female Lavellan Inquisitor (Solas/Inquisitor, 2016).
File:AWretchedThing - The Kiss.png|Encanto fanart by AWretchedThing depicting Bruno/Mirabel (2022).
File:Emet-Selch and G'raha Tia by NihilAzari.jpg|Final Fantasy XIV fanart by NihilAzari of Emet-selch and G'raha Tia (2020).
File:The Kiss (Zagnos) by Kyni.png|Zagreus/Hypnos from Hades fanart by Kyni (2020).
File:harrypotterkiss.jpg|Harry Potter fanart by Red_Magicmarker depicting Harry and Ginny (Harry/Ginny) made for a 2006 HP Fringeart Challenge.
File:In the Flesh by Pulvis.jpg|In the Flesh fanart by Pulvis featuring Simon/Kieran (2014).
File:The Kiss by a-bloody-big-ship.jpeg| James Bond fanart by a-bloody-big-ship of 00Q (Bond/Q) from 2012.
File:Maximoffs huangdanlan gustavklimt.jpg|MCU fanart of Untitled by Huang Danlan of Wanda and Pietro (Wanda/Pietro) from 2015.
File:A King with his Servant by hellothereimaloser.jpeg|Merlin art by hellothereimaloser of Merlin/Arthur (Merthur) from 2022
File:The Kiss by KokoDraws01.jpg|Naruto fanart by KokoDraws01 of Sasuke/Sakura (Sasusaku) from 2020.
File:SSBB Issue 1 Cover Tongari.jpg|Original Slash fanart by tongari for the front cover of Shousetsu Bang*Bang (2005)
File:The Kiss - Marushu by Lyonface.jpg|Persona 5 fanart by Lyonface (2022).
File:The Kiss by chocoholicmonkey.jpg|Pokémon fanart of two Pikachu by chocoholicmonkey (2023).
File:Interphase4.jpg|Star Trek fanart by Gayle F. Cover of Interphase #4 (1977). Two Vulcan characters pose like the figures in The Kiss.
File:spicedpeaches20-3.jpg|Star Trek fanart by Tarantel of Spock and McCoy (Spock/McCoy) featured in Spiced Peaches #21 (2010).
File:A Tribute to Carrie Fisher by albonet.jpg|Star Wars fanart by albonet of Han Solo with Leia Organa (Han/Leia). Made as a tribute to Carrie Fisher in 2016.
File:Together, You And I... by K3MaMi.jpg|Star Wars fanart by K3MaMi featuring Ahsoka and Darth Maul (2021).
File:perfectcouple.jpg|Starsky & Hutch fanart by Suzan Lovett (2010) used as the cover art of the The Perfect Couple.
File:The Kiss by Grunge Sniper.jpg|Undertale art by GrungeSniper of Alphys/Undyne (2022).
File:Meier and Charlotte by UmiMizuno.jpg|Vampire Hunter D fanart by UmiMizuno – Meier Link and Charlotte (2015)
File:The Klance by Deviant-Danni.jpg|Voltron fanart by Deviant-Danni – Keith Kogane and Lance McClain (Klance, 2016).
File:Kiss On Ice.jpg|Yuri on Ice fanart by missypena depicting Yuuri/Victor (Victuuri (2017).
File:The (Wildehopps) Kiss by Ammy-Louve.jpg|Zootopia fanart by ‎Ammy-Louve – Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps (Nick/Judy, 2016).
==References==
Category:Fine Art
Category:Romance Tropes