The Kiss 1913

Curator: Abraham Walkowitz created this drawing, simply titled "The Kiss." Editor: There's a vulnerability to it, isn't there? A raw, sketched quality that feels immediate and intimate. Curator: Walkowitz, born in 1880, often explored themes of modern life and human connection in his art. This piece, despite its simplicity, taps into a primal symbol: the kiss. Editor: The hand obscuring the woman's face…it's such an interesting gesture. Is it protective, possessive, or something else entirely? It shifts the dynamic. Curator: Perhaps all of those things. The kiss, as a cultural symbol, is loaded—romance, betrayal, greeting, farewell. Walkowitz gives us a stripped-down version, but the symbolism is persistent. Editor: It's interesting to consider how public displays of affection were perceived at the time, too. The drawing feels quietly subversive, given the era. Curator: It's a fascinating snapshot of intimacy. Editor: I agree. There's a tension between the universal and the personal here that really holds your attention.