History: The Kiss of Brâncuşi, at the heart of all passions

To mark the date of his birthday, February 19, 1876, Le Petit Journal tells the story of an artwork by Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi that unleashes many passions, The Kiss. This sculpture is currently in the Montparnasse Cemetery where it has been sealed. An incredible financial war with enormous stakes pits the French state against a Russian family. According to connoisseurs, this sculpture is currently the most expensive in the world art market.

The many visitors who, every day, go to see the famous tombs of Gainsbourg, Baudelaire or Maupassant are rather surprised to pass in front of a strange wooden box that covers a tombstone. Under this box is the famous work of Brâncuşi adorning the tomb of a young Russian woman who, until recently, was totally unknown. Her name is Tatiana Rachewskaia. This sculpture, The Kiss, has attracted much attention as it represents a couple so connected that the two lovers are represented as intertwined in the eternity of a kiss. An expression of crazy love that finds a troubling echo in the story of this young Russian woman surrounded by an aura of mystery, whom Brancusi made, involuntarily, as immortal as his work.