The Kiss 1976

Byron Bratt Jr. made “The Kiss,” a black and white print, sometime after 1952. It’s hard to know if the grayscale here is a creative decision, or limited by materials. But there’s something about the reduced palette that heightens the feeling, like a memory, or a half-forgotten dream. The piece is a still life, but the longer you look, the more there is to see. Notice the coffee cups, side by side like lovers, each with a heart shaped void. Then the spoon, resting at the bottom of the image, a bridge between these two entities. I love the textural contrast between the shadowy background and the reflective surfaces. The starkness almost makes the work abstract, but the intimate subject gives it an emotional punch. Looking at this piece makes me think of the work of Vija Celmins, another artist interested in using grayscale to represent mundane objects in a moving way. Ultimately, “The Kiss” reminds us that even everyday objects can carry a profound sense of connection and longing.