The Kiss by Rodin
(Le Baiser) - Musee Rodin, Paris

Rodin had decided from the beginning that "The Kiss" was intended to be a part of The Gates of Hell, to represent "Sins of the Flesh. However Rodin realized that the The passionate love which is represented is more of a romantic story (unsuitable for the gates of hell), but an earthly passion. Rodin removed the figures to make them an individual statue.

The form of passionate lovers emerges from the situate, and Rodin was inspired by some of the contemporary French Impressionist painters. But what they did with color, Rodin did with lights and shadows. He was a genius and this was certainly one of the greatest of sculptors.

He created the sense of actual flesh and inner feelings of the figures. The hot passion, the sensuality, love and lust frozen in stone for all times.