The Kiss of Betrayal
“Kiss of Judas” Fresco (detail), 1304-06
Giotto di Bondone
This magnificent fresco portraying the betrayal of Jesus, was painted by Giotto over 700 years ago in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy.
Giotto portrays Judas thick browed, eyes deep set and dark, almost Neolithic.
Christ’s face is alive: living, breathing, grieving, hurting. Yet we see Christ’s forgiveness and sorrow for Judas and the enormity of his deed…the Judas kiss, the kiss of betrayal.
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The Maternal Kiss
Sleepy Baby, 1910
Mary Cassatt
Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas, Texas
Whoa! This is not just another sentimental, sugar sweet painting of mother and child! Ponder this painting for a moment: Mother and child share a deep and common love. There is a passion there, a bliss, an ecstasy. The mother and child are physically and intensely wrapped up in each other…almost like the feeling of being “in love.”
It was astonishing that Mary Cassatt (1849-1926), could capture these images as she herself eschewed marriage and a family of her own.
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The Kiss of Passion
From Here to Eternity
Lancaster and Kerr in the beach scene at Halona Cove, Oahu, Hawaii
The greatest beach-kiss scene in film was made in 1953 in a tiny cove on Oahu, in the Hawaiian Islands. The film was adapted from James Jones’ excellent novel, “From Here to Eternity.”
Take a look at this video and you will see why Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr made movie history! Click here if you are unable to view the video.
Kirby,
I loved this one…the Kiss! Just terrific!
thanks for sending!
Great, especially the From Here to Eternity. That is an all time classic.
Did you see the Caillibot in Ft. Worth
Although Gioto’s Judas looks like he’s about to slap a great big smack right on Jesus’ lips, Mary Cassatt’s mother looks like she’ll just ponder her situation a bit before getting down to such a serious matter. Deborah and Burt have cast their inhibitions to the winds (the sea?), and have literally embraced eternity as they clutch one another. Thank you, Kirby, for pointing out three poignant masterpieces of passion.
Your comments are always incisive, David. These comments gave me a good laugh.
Thanks for following my blog!
Wow!
It is amazing to me the unique examples of the “kiss” are so capably woven together.
The video was a superb link to the theme.
Thank you.
What a perfectly wonderful way to start my day!!!
Thank you.
I do hope to get to the Broad next week when I am with my daughter in LA! If not, it is a must for my next visit.
Also loved the mother and child paintings! Nothing ever so amazing and loving. (Mary Cassatt at her finest!) The love scene also emotionally charged.
thanks, Kirby!
— Stuart Macdonald and Christie Jackson
The kiss is a means of communication. It is a greeting. It is a means of expressing affection. It is a sign of respect. It can be a sinister signal. It can be deceitful. Examples thru the history of man illustrate if a variety of forms. But stop. Think. Whatever the intent. What ever the purpose. It is communication. In its self it neither good or bad. And so forth. Its role in art illustrates its communication role so well. I hope I conqured the CAPTCHA Code.