Kiss of the Sphinx | Franz von Stuck (1895)

In The Kiss of the Sphinx (Der Kuss der Sphinx, 1895), Franz Stuck turns the ancient riddle-keeper into a lover. A sphinx, part woman and part great cat, wraps herself around a man and presses her mouth to his. He doesn’t resist. It’s tenderness and menace in one embrace, and it’s one of the most unsettling images of the Symbolist movement.

Stuck was a leading German Symbolist, a co-founder of the Munich Secession, and a teacher of Kandinsky and Klee. His favorite subjects were temptation, desire, and the dangerous woman, and this painting may be the purest example. The shadowed setting and the glowing skin of the two figures give it a theatrical, dreamlike intensity.

This print is made for the dark academia library, the moody bedroom, the gothic gallery wall, or the altar corner.

WHY IT WORKS ON A WALL
It tells a whole story in one frame, and viewers tend to stop and ask who she is and what he’s given up. Pair it with Sin, Lucifer, and Sensuality for a coordinated set of Stuck’s darkest work.

CHOOSE YOUR FINISH

• Matte Paper: Smooth, non-reflective, and rich in the shadows. Our most popular option and an excellent everyday choice.
• Fine Art Textured Paper: Heavier paper with a subtle grain that gives the print the feel of an original painting. Our pick if you want a gallery look without the cost of canvas.
• Canvas Print: A real canvas surface for the closest thing to a painted piece. Ready to hang.

DETAILS

• Artwork: The Kiss of the Sphinx (Der Kuss der Sphinx) by Franz Stuck, 1895
• Image restored and color-corrected from a high-resolution scan
• Colors may vary slightly between screens and prints

SHIPPING AND CARE
Prints are made to order and shipped flat or rolled, depending on size. Keep out of direct sunlight to protect the colors, and use a frame with glass or acrylic for paper prints.

A GIFT FOR
Dark academia lovers, art history fans, mythology and classics readers, and anyone who has ever been charmed into something they shouldn’t.