Klimt, The Kiss Puzzle

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was an Austrian symbolist painter fascinated by Japanese art and the female form. The Kiss (1907-1908) represents the pinnacle of Klimt's &quot,golden phase.&quot, Oil and gold leaf combine to create sinuous shapes, and the lustrous palette and intricate patterns make the painting one of the great masterpieces of the early modern period.