#11: The Kiss – Gustav Klimt (1908)
The Kiss, painted in 1907–1908, wraps two lovers in gold and oil on a nearly six-foot square canvas. The man’s geometric robes meet the woman’s floral patterns, creating a shimmering, intimate embrace that feels sacred and alive. The painting was part of Klimt’s Golden Period, immediately acquired by the Austrian government, and caused a stir for its sensuality.
Some say the figures are Klimt and his muse Emilie Flöge.