A cheeky sequel to Gustav Klimt’s infamous portrait, “After the Kiss” (2023) is a self-portrait capturing an intimate moment of new motherhood. Even though it is a wonderful and natural part of the human experience, breastfeeding is rarely represented in visual arts. In this piece, I wanted to showcase the tender strength of the naked female form without a sexualized lens.

Regarded as one of the most beautiful paintings today, Klimt’s “The Kiss” was considered pornographic by many when it was first revealed in 1908. A nod to this moment in art history, “After the Kiss” also illustrates a contemporary taboo. Like a public embrace one hundred years ago, new mothers are often subject to the passive cultural shame of publicly breastfeeding their babies. They are marketed trendy nursing covers to ‘cover up,’ and granted permission by decals in coffeeshop windows to breastfeed there. It’s time to bring the beauty of breastfeeding our babies into the light, onto the canvas, and normalize it in popular culture.