I have kissed the mouth c. 20th century

Curator: This stark woodcut print, titled "I Have Kissed the Mouth," by Benjamin Miller, really captivates with its dramatic use of black and white. Editor: My immediate reaction is one of unease. There's a disturbing power dynamic here, isn't there? The woman's presentation and the severed head, well, it feels rooted in problematic mythologies. Curator: Absolutely. Miller, born in 1877, created this work using a style that harkens back to German Expressionism, which was a movement laden with its own anxieties regarding gender and power. Editor: It also speaks to the historical narratives surrounding women as temptresses, as figures of both desire and danger, think Salome and John the Baptist. How does that play into contemporary readings? Curator: It forces us to examine these archetypes critically. We have to ask how these narratives have shaped not just artistic representation, but the lived realities of women and gender minorities. The artwork's power lies in its ability to spark precisely these dialogues. Editor: It's a difficult image, no doubt, but its ability to provoke these vital conversations is undeniably important. Curator: I agree, it challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths about our cultural inheritance.