The Kiss 1895

Curator: This is Edvard Munch's "The Kiss," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. While the exact date remains unknown, its visual impact is undeniable. Editor: The blurred, almost indistinct figures immediately convey a sense of intimacy, yet also of dissolution—as if they're fading into one another and into the background. Curator: Precisely. Munch's etching technique, with its dense, interwoven lines, flattens the figures, merging them with the stark window and urban backdrop. This was very intentional by Munch, as he often explored themes of urban isolation. Editor: And the window functions as a frame within a frame, highlighting the couple's embrace against the rigid geometry of the city outside—a stark contrast emphasizing the personal versus the societal. Curator: A relevant point. The figures almost seem trapped by the curtain, and the external buildings seem to press in on the lovers, suggesting the suffocating impact of societal pressure. Editor: It's a powerful statement about the complexities of love and its place within the modern world. A truly stunning piece. Curator: Indeed, a piece that stays with you long after you've viewed it.