Superb, rare original woodcut by Frans Masereel. “De Kus” from 1924. Frans Laurent Wilhelmina Adolf Lodewijk Masereel (Blankenberge, 31 July 1889 - Avignon, 3 January 1972) was a Flemish graphic artist, woodcutter, painter and draughtsman. He is considered the most important wood engraver and graphic artist of the 20th century. Received his academic training in Ghent with the painter Jean Delvin, among others. Here, he met Jozef Cantré, who would become a lifelong friend. In Ghent, he also met Jules De Bruycker, who introduces him to the etching technique. Masereel requires no further explanation. Work is included in numerous international collections, prints cabinets and museums. Jan Van Hove described in De Standaard in 2004 this work as follows: Scenes of a kiss, the sign of love par excellence, have been rather rare for a long time. But at the end of the nineteenth century there was no stopping it. This was caused by ‘De Kus’ by Rodin, a powerful work from the 1880s. With one brilliant pitch, Rodin obliterated all taboos. The embrace that Rodin captured, is fiery and sensual. It was his intention to show Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini, the doomed lovers from the hell of Dante. In reality, it bears testimony to his image of the mostly stormy relationship between the sculptor himself and his pupil Camille Claudel. Art is sublimated passion. The Viennese painter Gustav Klimt also dedicated a famous work to a kiss. But in contrast to Rodin, who knew that nudity could not be improved upon, he hid the passion of his characters under a beautiful golden dress. The most passionate kiss is that of the Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi: in his gate of the kiss hardly any body shapes were suggested and the lovers are melted together as one block. An extremely endearing portrayal of the theme is by the Belgian graphic artist Frans Masereel. His woodcut from 1924 was born in Paris. Masereel was impressed by the restlessness and the massive scale of the big city with its bars and cinemas, illuminated signs, jazz musicians and street women. To that hotpot full of vibrant life, he dedicated a magisterial series of prints, which except for their artistic value are also praised for their historic value. ‘De Kus’ by Masereel does not hold a candle to the pathos of Rodin or Klimt. He shows the ordinary lives of ordinary people who, despite the hurriedness and the anonymity of modern times, continue to understand the language of the heart. A well framed piece, behind glass with a mat. In the original frame. A very good work of art by an artist of international fame!