The Kiss by Gustav Klimt: Great Art Explained

Please leave a comment (even a short one) and "like" the video. It really helps promote the channel on YouTube. I appreciate it! James

I never thought I would be the kind of person to care about art and art history. These videos have awakened a curiosity in me that I thought was dead. Thank you.

It feels illegal to watch these videos for free. They are art masterpieces in their own ways.

I was in Vienna as a 17 year old teenager, when I first faced this beautiful painting. After gazing at it for 30minutes I realized, how little of art I comprehend or feel. After visiting the Castle Belevedere my soul opened up the to arts and I started devoting my life to literature, music and art. This painting is very dear to me and thank you Mr. Payne for taking me to a trip to my warmest memories!

When the world needed him the most, he returned.

Every episode is gold. You are legitimately teaching me to better appreciate art and I'm very grateful for this.

The cross references to other artists, influences and changing culture of the time give your docs an extra dimension not to mention your wonderful take on details that would or could otherwise go unquestioned. Thank you very much

If all art history were taught in the way these videos are I would have majored in art history. Endlessly fascinating and wonderfully presented. Thank you!

The Kiss is the single most beautiful painting I have ever seen. I was surprised, however, to hear that it was sexual. Perhaps I’m too naive but I see nothing sexual in it at all. The kiss describes - better than any book - the nature of falling in love. We become infatuated, develop a passion which eventually overpowers us and forces us to succumb and give ourselves to the other person, not knowing for sure if the other person is really who and what we imagine in this this momentary state of delightful insanity. One thing that always struck me was how all the beautiful and partially abstract decorations around the kissing couple just fade away when I look into this painting. I can step back and observe them as illustrations of how the intoxicating love feels in our hearts, minds and bodies - but the kiss draws me back in again. The painting Judith, on the other had oozes eroticism and doesn’t really tickle my fancy. Looking at that, I feel like I’m suddenly becoming part of the intercourse she seems to be having. Too much for me.

what I love about this painting is how he is showing true adoration of the woman by kissing her on the cheek. It looks like they are wrapped in a blanket after love making and the glow on her face is one of almost reverence, she looks like a lady of class by the look of her hair/makeup/skin she doesn't look like she works but she seems so sweet in her face which seems almost like a distinct contrast to the situation of love making... this painter loved women and gave them the ability to be women who make and enjoy love making and at the same time keep their innocence, goodness.

Another triumph! All I can really add isn't about art, rather the points you made about music. A lot of Viennese composers fled Vienna in the 30s because of the Nazis. They ended up in Hollywood. Thats why so much of the music we think as 'cinematic' is so reminiscent of 1930s Viennese opera. That huge brassy sound with all the tropes like leitmotifs for each character. That would have been very familiar to an inter war Viennese audience.

I love how you intorduce not only the painting history but a brief history about the artist and the era they lived in !

I enjoy how you blend in the biographical, historical, social, and artistic aspects of the painting. I remember first seeing one of his painting as a student in Chicago. I wonder how much interest people would have if he hadn't used gold in his works. Thanks for another interesting video!

the gaudy background of the kiss shows everything else falling away when one is in a lover's embrace

Please... please keep making these video. I love every single one of them!

Please, please, please do not stop making these videos. The 15 min format is perfect. I truly feel inspired after every one. I've learnt so much. Why did I choose to be an accountant, my whole adult life has been shit.

I learn more from these than the online art courses I've taken in college. They weren't terrible classes, but they'd talk briefly about different artists. Basically they'd be like "Here's an artist, here's what their work looks like, now study these vocabulary words for the quiz". It hurts especially because I'm an artist myself, I love learning about other artist's thought processes and their techniques. Anyway, your videos help me understand and appreciate artist's work even more.

Great job, James! I'm persuaded by the argument that the couple is Orfeo and Eurydice, perched on the edge of the Underworld, as her toes strain to hold on. That would explain the tension in her feet. This painting comes across as the opposite of platonic; it's one of the most passionate images I've ever seen, quite overwhelming (I've seen it at the Belvedere. ) You know, I'd happily watch a longer video; the description of the materials Klimt used is fascinating.

I have only come across one artist in my life that brings out the sort of fascination that Klimt brings out in me. It's a physical feeling in my chest and brain - a stirring of some kind. His paintings are so perfect, so beautiful, that it's almost hypnotizing when I look at them. It's hard to explain because it happens so seldom. Rembrandt, with his unmatched use of light, is the other artist.

Another stunning video! I've been patiently waiting for this one and I wasn't disappointed.