The sculpture The Kiss depicts a moment from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri which describes two lovers, Paolo and Francesca, kissing for the first time. Their passion grew as they read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere together. Auguste Rodin captured an intimate moment with both sensuality and romance. In the sculpture, the book can be seen in the man's left hand.
The passion and romance that permeate the sculpture The Kiss are undeniable. Auguste Rodin relies on romance and sensuality, and although both figures are nudes, the way they were sculpted was not overtly sexual. The intertwined figures with sleek and supple bodies ensure that this sculpture is aesthetically pleasing from all angles. They have involved in each other that their faces are barely visible. The striking contrast between their smooth skin and the roughly chilled rock on which they are sitting adds sensual elements to this piece.
Fluid, smooth modeling, very dynamic composition, and an interesting theme ensured sculpture The Kiss rapid success. Although it was a hit, Auguste Rodin himself did not give it much value. He wrote: "The embrace of The Kiss is undoubtedly very attractive. But I have found nothing in this group. It is a theme frequently treated in the academic tradition, a subject complete in itself and artificially isolated from the world surrounding it; it is a big ornament sculpted according to the usual formula and which focuses attention on the two personages instead of opening up wide horizons to daydreams."
