Whether it’s portraying couples looking at each other passionately, exchanging warm hugs, or a still-life, classic oil paintings prove to have a long-lasting attractiveness. Throughout art history, such artworks have played essential roles in capturing the beauty and passion of love.
Being extraordinary and greatly emotionally appealing, these masterpieces surely deserve contemplation all the time. Nevertheless, February – the time to celebrate love and honor romance – is the most appropriate period for us to share about the following artworks, such as Gustav Klimt’s painting “The Kiss” which shows both possessive and tender sides of love.
Franz Smola, curator of the Upper Belvedere museum in Vienna, praised: “The Kiss’ epitomizes sentimental feelings of tenderness and love, and speaks to all generations of people.”
It’s VY GALLERY pleasure to be with you on this journey to learn more about other romantic and meaningful paintings.
1. “The Kiss” – The Kiss by Gustav Klimt (1908) is striking because of the gold leaves which the artist used in his coloring technique. The painting marks Klimt’s heyday and is considered one of the most well-known paintings in the world.
2. “The Birth of Venus” – The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (1484-86). The Medici family commissioned Artist Botticelli to make this work. The painting depicts the goddess of love standing on a giant seashell as an ideal standard of perfection and purity
3. “Chez le Père Lathuille”- At the Père Lathuille Restaurant by Édouard Manet (1879). In a simple context of daily life, the artist subtly depicts the feelings of love. However, when looking deeply into the eyes and posture of the couple, viewers feel a burning love. The man in the painting was modeled by the son of the coffee shop owner, and the young woman’s model was two different people.
4. “In Bed: The Kiss” – In Bed: The Kiss of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1892). This post-impressionist painting by Toulouse-Lautrec captures a moment of pure passion between two women. The painting belongs to a series of works depicting the life of workers in the Paris brothels of the artist.
5. “Flaming June” – Flaming June by Sir Frederic Leighton (1895). This painting is considered one of Leighton’s masterpieces. Although in the painting, the woman sleeps alone, the hot orange tones and the flowing skirt create enough of a romantic atmosphere.
Source: CNN
