A moment of intense erotic union? A secular icon of the sublime? A feminist tableau in which a woman coolly disengages from a man’s overheated desire? A tribute to someone special? This program debates the possibilities as it places Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss within the context of Klimt’s sexually charged life and fin de siècle Vienna, a locus of creative energy and societal double standards. Possible influences on The Kiss, details of Klimt’s “golden period,” and modifications to The Kiss after its first showing are examined as well, and additional Klimt works such as Judith I and Danae are discussed. Contains mature themes and explicit language and imagery. Original BBCW broadcast title: The Kiss. (50 minutes)