Meisje geeft een kus op de wang van een meisje gezeten in een hoge stoel 1869

Albrecht de Vriendt created this print depicting a tender moment between two young girls. The kiss, a seemingly simple gesture, carries a rich history across cultures. The act of pressing lips, shared between kin, lovers, or even strangers, has taken different shapes. Think of the kiss of peace in early Christian rituals, a symbol of unity and reconciliation. In ancient Rome, kisses sealed contracts and oaths. Here, the kiss transcends mere affection; it suggests a deeper bond. Such imagery resonates with the idea of the ‘pathos formula’, an expression of intense emotion passed down through history. The kiss carries both conscious and subconscious connections. It evokes powerful feelings of longing, safety, and nostalgia. The scene speaks to our shared human experiences, tapping into our collective memory. These symbols reappear in art and life, proving that human emotions remain timeless.