Passionate photography

Author: Chief Editor: Dong Yunzhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-27
Features:
Fragment: The bold "kiss" in this frame immediately strikes you with a touch of humor. The reason people feel this way is closely tied to the suddenness and intensity of this dramatic scene. The street, originally a bustling thoroughfare, suddenly has a young man kissing a girl, as if adding a new scene to the familiar urban landscape. In front of the imposing Paris City Hall, such intimate behavior is quite unconventional. The couple pays no heed to the onlookers, as if they alone possess the world, with a kind of "ostrich-like" confidence. However, despite the couple's fervor and excitement, almost lost in a soft, tender embrace, the hurried passersby remain indifferent and oblivious, creating a stark contrast that adds an unsettling tone to the already remarkable scene. Additionally, the composition of the image is well-executed, neither losing the vibrant street atmosphere nor dulling the captivating focal point—the center of interest.
This photograph, "Kiss in Front of the Paris City Hall," was taken by the renowned French photographer Robert Doisneau over 40 years ago. After it was first published by the American magazine Life, it quickly gained fame, appearing in newspapers and magazines around the world and being widely printed on various promotional materials and advertisements. For a time, people looked with admiration at this "couple of the century."
Doisneau was a gentle and modest man, yet this unassuming "good man" found himself entangled in unexpected trouble in his later years, even becoming a defendant in a lawsuit. The dispute stemmed from the very photograph mentioned at the beginning of this text. A elderly couple claimed to be the romantic couple in the photo, accusing Doisneau of violating their right of publicity; another French man identified the woman in the photo as his former lover, while the woman herself threatened to sue Doisneau. Later, the actual couple who posed for the photo came forward to clarify the truth, but they also demanded compensation from Doisneau. The mystery was finally solved—turns out, they were models hired by Doisneau.
Today, the controversy has subsided, but people have gained an unexpected revelation: they now know the photo was carefully planned and staged, uncovering a secret hidden for decades.