“Kiss (In the Park)”
Today, a print from a cautionary tale.
This etching on paper, titled “Kiss (In the Park),” is a print by the German Symbolist artist, Max Klinger. It is part of the series titled A Love, Opus X that was printed in 1887. “Kiss (In the Park)” is plate 4.
In this print, a man and woman are locked in a passionate embrace. As the name implies, they are in a park setting with a lovely background detailing trees and leaves. The man is sitting on a balcony wall, leaning against a tree. His arms are wrapped tightly around the woman, as he pulls her towards him into the kiss. The woman is standing on top of the balcony being drawn into his embrace. Though her right hand is pressed against the chest of the man, her left hand is visible holding the top of his head. A preparatory drawing for this final image is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, in the United States.
Eine Liebe, or A Love, was a series of etchings created by Klinger when he was living in Rome, Italy. Together, the narrative scenes tell a story about a young, modern woman from Berlin who is part of the upper-class society. She is pursued by a suitor and has a loving and passionate affair which ends in tragedy. “Kiss (In the Park)” is when the woman gives in to the man’s affections. After the seduction, the woman becomes pregnant. The suitor leaves her, and the young woman is shamed. In the final plate, plate 10, she dies prematurely during childbirth. The shadowy figure of Death appears to claim her infant. Klinger dedicated A Love to the Swiss symbolist artist, Arnold Böcklin.
Between 1879 and 1910, Klinger printed thirteen series of themed etching art prints, which he called cycles. Each series was given a name and an opus number which was inspired by his love of music. Klinger used his prints to highlight contemporary social issues in what he called “the dark side of life.” Klinger’s print series were an inspiration for symbolist artists, including Edvard Munch, Lovis Corinth, Max Slevogt, and for future surrealist artists, such as Max Ernst.
“Kiss (In the Park)” is in the collections of the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe located in Karlsruhe, Germany. The museum is currently closed for renovations.
For more on Max Klinger, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
