SPANNENBURG.ARTart that matters
← Back to Collection
Fine art photograph by Arjan Spannenburg titled 'Kiss Goodbye,' featuring a vulnerable shirtless man reclining on a dark wooden cabinet beside a bouquet of red roses, symbolising the numbing pain and exposure of lost love against a dramatic black backdrop.

More from the series

THE STANDALONE MASTERPIECES →
Black and white fine art photograph of a figure sitting inside a coastal cave overlooking a Mediterranean landscape.Fine art black and white portrait titled 'The Observer' by Arjan Spannenburg. A young man in a black turtleneck stares intently at the viewer with clasped hands. Winner of the FEP Awards 2019 Merit in Portraiture.Award-winning black and white photograph of a male dancer performing a leap over a black SUV on a busy New York City street.A black and white fine art photograph titled Outcast showing a man sitting on a floor mattress in a desolate room.A serene black and white fine art photograph of a figure standing in water next to a cliff side, exploring themes of nature and vulnerability.The Artwork COMING OUT : showing a blurred figure transitioning out of a wardrobe in a high-contrast black and white fine art photograph by Arjan Spannenburg.
Arjan Spannenburg

KISS GOODBYE

"A cinematic and classical study of grief and devotion, featuring a reclined male figure and a bouquet of red roses against a void."

The Narrative

Die Gewig van 'n Vervaagde Liefde

In "Kiss Goodbye," Arjan Spannenburg captures the heavy, paralysing stillness that follows the collapse of a deep connection. Whether through the finality of death, the shock of betrayal, or the slow unravelling of divorce, this work explores the moment the soul goes numb.

Die Kwesbaarheid van die Ontblote Self

Die keuse van 'n naakte onderwerp is nie bloot esteties nie; dit is 'n diepgaande metafoor vir die nasleep van verlies. Wanneer liefde of vriendskap weggeneem word, verdwyn die pantser wat ons in die wêreld dra. Spannenburg bied die liggaam aan soos dit werklik in hartseer is: blootgestel, onbeskermd en geheel en al kwesbaar. Die vel, verlig teen 'n leegte van duisternis, weerspieël 'n persoon wat "van alles gestroop" is, met slegs die rou werklikheid van hul eie bestaan gelaat.

Die verdowende uitwerking van verraad

There is a specific tension in the pose, a body that is present but seemingly unable to move. It illustrates how the pain of loss can physically numb a person, leaving them caught in a state of stasis. The subject leans into the darkness, representing that heavy, hollow feeling where the world continues to move while the individual remains frozen in their sorrow.

The Essential Crimson: A Symbol of What Remains

While the artist often works with the mastery of light and shadow, the use of colour in "Kiss Goodbye" is vital to its narrative power. The deep red of the roses represents the love that once was, the vibrant, living thing that has now been severed.

"Were the image monochrome, the visceral core of the artwork would be lost. The crimson roses are essential; they anchor a love that has passed, a connection the heart desperately clings to." - Arjan Spannenburg

The contrast between the warm tones of the skin and the blood-red petals serves as a reminder that although the connection has changed forever, the memory of that love remains a stark, vivid weight in the hands of the bereaved.

Visual Analysis

A horizontal studio photograph of a naked man lying face down on a dark wooden dresser. His head rests on his arm, turned away from the camera. To the left, a bouquet of deep red roses lies on the surface. The background is solid black, utilising Chiaroscuro lighting to emphasise the musculature of the back and the texture of the flower petals.

Configure Your Edition

Year

2018

Genres

Masculine VulnerabilityMale nudePortraitureComing of AgeMental Health