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The Kiss (Klimt)

The Kiss is an oil-on-canvas painting with gold leaf, silver and platinum by Gustav Klimt, completed in 1908 or 1909 during his Golden Period.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Kiss is an oil-on-canvas painting with gold leaf, silver and platinum by Gustav Klimt, completed in 1908 or 1909 during his Golden Period. It depicts an embracing couple wrapped in ornate, patterned robes and is widely regarded as one of Klimt’s best-known and most important works.

Description

The painting presents a kneeling couple locked in an intimate embrace, with their bodies partly hidden by richly decorated garments. Its surface combines figurative painting with flattened pattern and ornament influenced by Art Nouveau and earlier decorative traditions.

Creation and date

The work was painted between 1907 and 1908, and sources note it as completed in 1908 or 1909. It belongs to Klimt’s Golden Period, when he developed highly ornamental compositions using precious metal leaf.

Exhibition and ownership

The Kiss was first exhibited at the 1908 Kunstschau in Vienna under the title Liebespaar. It was purchased there by the Austrian Ministry and later entered the collection of the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere.

Artistic significance

The painting is widely treated as a landmark of Vienna Secession and one of Klimt’s defining works. It is frequently described as his most popular or best-known painting.

Key facts

  • The painting is a square-format work measuring 180 by 180 cm.
  • It was created during Klimt’s Golden Period, when he made extensive use of gold leaf.
  • The work shows a couple in a close embrace, surrounded by decorative robes and a floral ground.
  • The painting is housed in the Belvedere museum in Vienna.
  • It is considered a major icon of Vienna Secession and one of Klimt’s most famous paintings.
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Canadian context

The Kiss is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through art history, museum study, and reproductions widely found in Canadian galleries, classrooms, and popular culture; it is also a standard reference work when discussing Symbolism, Art Nouveau, and early modern European art.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted The Kiss?
The Kiss was painted by the Austrian Symbolist artist Gustav Klimt.
When was The Kiss made?
It was painted between 1907 and 1908 and is often described as completed in 1908 or 1909.
Where is The Kiss displayed now?
It is in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere at the Upper Belvedere Palace in Vienna, Austria.
What does The Kiss show?
It depicts a couple embracing, wrapped in ornate robes and standing on a flower-covered ground.
What materials did Klimt use?
Klimt used oil paint with gold leaf, and also added silver and platinum.
Why is The Kiss famous?
It is regarded as one of Klimt’s masterpieces and a key work of the Vienna Secession and Art Nouveau.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kiss_(Klimt)
    Supports: Artist, date, medium, movement, description, exhibition history, and current location.
  2. Google Arts & Culture — https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-kiss-gustav-klimt/HQGxUutM_F6ZGg?hl=en
    Supports: Date, first exhibition, acquisition by the Austrian state, dimensions, medium, and interpretive context.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Kiss-painting-by-Klimt
    Supports: Completion date, alternate title, and significance within Klimt's work.
  4. The Public Domain Review — https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/details-from-gustav-klimt-s-the-kiss-1908/
    Supports: Square dimensions, date range, and visual description of the composition.