Robert Longo
Purple Kiss
1990
Color lithograph on Arches paper
92 × 45 cm
Ed./20 — Edition of 20
Location: Clichy, France
Arianee token ID
288589419
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About the artwork
A close-up view of two faces in profile, nearly touching, is rendered in a deep purple hue against a darker background. The composition focuses on the intimate space between the noses and mouths of the two figures, suggesting a moment of proximity or an impending kiss. The details of the facial contours, including the bridge of the nose and the curve of the lips, are delineated with a sense of sculptural form, despite the monochromatic color scheme. The work is a lithograph, a medium that allows for the reproduction of detailed imagery with a painterly quality. The choice of a vertical, elongated format contributes to the concentrated presence of the composition, a characteristic seen in other works by the artist. This piece utilizes chromatic sophistication within a limited palette to convey a specific mood or emotional state. The image draws on the artist's characteristic visual intensity and formal ambition, translating these qualities into the register of a color lithograph. The subject matter, while intimate, aligns with the artist's broader exploration of human emotion and interaction, often presented with a cinematic quality.
Expert opinion
This lithograph belongs to a body of work by Robert Longo that emerged from the Pictures Generation movement, which critically examined the role of media imagery in contemporary culture. The artist's use of appropriated or media-inspired imagery, transformed through his distinctive style, positions this work within a dialogue about representation and perception. The market for Longo's prints is established, with consistent demand for his limited editions. These works are sought after by collectors interested in artists who engage with photorealism and conceptual themes, and who are associated with influential art movements of the late 20th century.
About the artist
Born in Brooklyn in 1953, Robert Longo is a versatile artist practicing painting, sculpture, photography, drawing and video. He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence and then at Buffalo State College, where he obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1975. Longo came to prominence in the 1980s with his iconic Men in the Cities series, charcoal drawings of men and women in motion, often oversized and realistically precise, capturing a kind of dramatic instability. His artistic practice explores a variety of themes, from social issues to environmental concerns, using striking contrasts between light and dark. Longo is also renowned for his video and film work, having directed the film Johnny Mnemonic (1995) and music videos for bands such as R.E.M. and New Order. His work has been exhibited in prestigious museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), the Tate Modern (London), and the Centre Pompidou (Paris). He has also participated in the Venice Biennale (1993) and Documenta (1982, 1987). Robert Longo has been honored with several awards, including the Goslar Kaiser Ring in 2005, for his outstanding contributions to contemporary art.
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