Art Appreciation Theme of Love and Sex

Art Appreciation Research Paper
This paper focuses on artistic work that concentrates on the themes of love and sex. Although the two seem to be in tandem, at least in terms of application, the dominant theme is love. It refers to different arts and several artists who give their diverse opinions in support and against love. It is essential to highlight the deductions made in this paper reflect the thoughts of associated artists. However, the author has introduced some customized ideas that help create harmony in various authors' opinions. Some sections of the paper juxtapose different artwork sections to illustrate the fundamental differences in the theme of love. The differences make the piece more realistic and appreciated.
The Theme of Love and Sex
The theme of love has dominated the lives of artists for centuries. In the Italian Renaissance, love was the core theme and demanded a political and philosophical ideal from the nineteenth century's Romantics. During the capitalist and post-industrial age, different artists have given different opinions on the concept of love. Some go to the extreme of rejecting its existence. In the Pop tradition at the time of artists And, Indiana, Robert and Roy Lichtenstein, Webster and Noble used symbols and language of love that formed monetized cultures (Artimage, 2015). Deborah Kass and Judy Chicago (feminist artists) used slogans and symbols to challenge sexual politics and gender imbalances that surrounded relationships and love. According to Tracey Emin, sex, love, loss, and heartbreak remain universal emotions that form part of the modern living experience. Analogous to similar experiences, love is closely linked to life explorations, decay, and death as per Anya Gallacio and Damien Hirst (Artimage, 2015).
The Artist Constantin Brancusi
According to the artist, the modern form of artwork follows a renowned, reviled, and often admired approach. However, there are always those factors that constitute the quality and form part of contention and fascination. It never looks like a real incident. It follows a realistic method that takes the forms of art used in the 20th century and has a unique resemblance for associated subjects. Sculptor Constantin Brancusi discusses the issue of adopting reality, which is above what nature looks like. This idea is core and pivotal to his work and equally controversial during his time (Macholz, 2018).
During the time of Brancusi, the traditional and conventional critiques went beyond physical representation. To him, the conventions had to take particular shapes that were beyond what the real titles represented. Works such as Princess X (1916) and Bird in Space
(1923) rarely resembled a bird that has ever been seen. Even so, Brancusi re-emphasized the point, and that makes the scriptures attract honesty. He is quoted saying that "what is real is not the external form…but the essence of things" (Macholz, 2018).
It was ridiculous for parties who showed typical muscle rippling techniques and even caught many by surprise. Brancusi was fast to challenge different art sets, which formed their sculpture and the actual representation of what they attained. It was an essential part of what other generations would gain from art. In modern society, Brancusi remains one of the famous, established, and canonical sculptors(Macholz, 2018). 
Artworks
The Kiss by Constantin Brancusi
The Kiss constitutes part of the excellent works of 1916. It presents a block-like version of two embracing lovers. Like the Rodin's of 1882, this sculpture takes a lifelike approach, and the stone imitates a soft look. However, the foundation for comparing the two sculptures is different because they appear to emanate from different backgrounds (Macholz, 2018).
Tom Lubbock, an art critic in The Independent, documented the flaws in the sculpture, precisely the element of "goodness." Additionally, Brancusi looked rather absurd in this context and even made him look inarticulate. Similarly, Rodin looked equally absurd and, at the same time, explicit. It creates a ridiculous sense of events depending on the taste(Macholz, 2018)
The discussed version of The Kiss portrays Brancusi attempting to overrule the already set techniques. The intention was to make Rodin's technique as one displaying kissing lovers. On the contrary, the discussion made people dissect the conversation and focus on marble blocks and the intended meanings. Brancusi failed to impress the concept of realism and instead revealed other unknown aspects. Brancusi was accustomed to quoting the French work by Nicolas Boileau, "rien n'est beau que la vrai" which means that beauty lies in truth. It exposes unfairness and impossibilities about truth and beauty. Slowly, the art by Brancusi was passing a message to different people(Macholz, 2018).
The Kiss by Gustav Klimt
One of the most famous yet expensive pieces of art ever sold is The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. The popularity was largely because of the transformative and compassionate paintings and other artworks beyond the kisses between a woman and a man. Gustav Klimt's The Kiss represents passion and tenderness. The colorful and shimmering scene consisting of two bodies and faces are still retained in Vienna's Belvedere Museum. Though it depicts a completely new extravagance scene, the golden leaf does not override the significance of the art. Artsper challenges the art lovers to take part in the ambiguous, erotic, and mythical concept to realize the fascinating interpretations. (Artsper, n.d.).
The art presents a concealed and embracing couple that forms part of the golden cloak. The deep embellishment covers and protects the couple from revealing love immorality. Two unique sets form part of the image. Firstly, the white and black motif represents power, strength, masculinity, and virility. In the same context, a woman is shown where Klimt adopts a circled and flower look portraying maternity and femininity. In the Kiss, Klimt employed a gold coating with a shimmering foundation, which acted as lovers' protection. The artwork is captivating and equally shocking for every reason, be it audacity and golden look (Artsper, n.d.).
Though many interpretations portray women's roles as submissive, others argue that The Kiss illustrates a woman who tries to escape the man but rather embraces him. It is possible to argue that the woman is seductive and lascivious, and these acts transformed the man to assume dominance. The symbolic meaning of all these roles shows that each has distinct roles that make them complete and shole as couples (Artsper, n.d.).
The Kiss by Francesca da Rimini
Rodin's decision to introduce nudity in the clothing concept was aimed at constructing an image that diverted the consumers of the information from raw interpretation. According to Rodin, The Kiss 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." Rodin's professional skills ensured that the concept of nudity was presented classically to cover any form of sexual orientation (Artble, 2015).
Analogous to other forms of sculptures developed by Rodin, The Kiss presents numerous views and opinions that Rodin believed to be real. It develops a visually stimulating art that gives a whole circle of dedication to Rodin's skills. It is also essential to recognize the contrasting difference portrayed by the rough marble and smooth skin because they add to the desirable characteristics presented in the artwork (Artble, 2015).
The Kiss offers a scene characterized by Dante's inferno and a narrative about lovers who faced punishment over adultery and lust. The tension in the sexual acts increases when Rodin chooses to leave a symbolic gap between the lovers' lips to signify interruption (Anika, 2015).
Summary
The inspirational work by Brancu?i is most probably due to The Kiss (1882) created by Rodin. Further, it could be as a result of the differences emanating from the Romanian execution. It illustrates the fundamental difference that exists between the artists and their original beliefs. Just like other artistic works by Klimt, The Kiss gives more emphasis on the female character. It reveals a young woman with facial expressions such as closed eyes that symbolize abandonment, delight, and ecstasy. Although the man embraces the woman in an intrusive manner, the gentle grip displays a feeling of warmth and tenderness (Artble, 2015). The bond between the lovers appears strong and unbreakable even though they seem intertwined in the abyss with the possibility of exit. The famous works by Auguste Rodin, known as The Thinker, contains a series of career sculptures. The most known of all focus on eroticism and sensuality concealed in The Eternal Idol and The Kiss. This interesting piece of art demonstrates the form of harmony that artwork should display to make it impressive. The alignment and organization events and the paleolithic genre make the audience curious and attentive making it an attractive piece.
References
Anika, D. (2015). Erotic Sculpture - 10 Titillating Examples From the History of Art. Retrieved from Wide Walls: https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/erotic-sculpture-10-examples
Artble. (2015). The Kiss Analysis. Retrieved from Artble: https://www.artble.com/artists/auguste_rodin/sculpture/the_kiss/more_information/analysis
Artimage. (2015, January 08). Artimage's top pick of artworks on themes of love. Retrieved from Artimage.org.uk: https://www.artimage.org.uk/news/2015/our-top-pick-of-artworks-relating-to-themes-of-love/
Artsper. (n.d.). Art Analysis: The Kiss by Klimt. Retrieved from Artsper MAgazine: https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/art-analysis-the-kiss-by-klimt/
Macholz, K. (2018, July 20). How Constantin Brancusi Brazenly Redefined Sculpture. Retrieved from Artsy.net: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-constantin-brancusi-brazenly-redefined-sculpture