Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville

Apparently yesterday was International day of the Kiss!! Who knew ? So I thought Id share this beautiful image with history. It is one of the iconic photographs of the 20th Century, an image that is synonymous with love and with Paris, the city of romance. Its name is Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville (The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville) Doisneau. I have a tinted memory of the story about this image, so i quickly turn to my laptop in search for a more accurate information when one of my old univerity lecturers Tom Ang, catches my eye in an article he has written about it in one of his books!! . So here’s the quick version- Robert Doisneau was commissioned to photograph people throughout the streets in Paris Kissing by Life Magazine. Years later a couple claimed they were in this image demanding lots of money, sadly this left for Robert Doisneau distraught to reveal he had hired actors to create this image that looks ever so spontaneous!! Nevertheless it is a beautiful image that will always be iconic and one of my favourites! I hope everyone is keeping safe and well under the circumstances ! XOX .