In the heart of Poblenou Cemetery, Barcelona, you’ll find an intriguing sculpture. Known as 'The Kiss of Death' (El petó de la mort), this macabre masterpiece was presumably created by Jaume Barba in 1930. The sculpture portrays death as a winged skeleton bestowing a kiss on a young man’s forehead, a striking departure from the traditionally portrayed ethereal angels. Some question if the sculpture's creator is truly Barba, or possibly his son-in-law, Joan Fontbernat. The sculpture honors the tomb of Josep Llaudet Soler, a former textile manufacturer, and includes a verse by renowned Catalan poet, Jacint Verdaguer on its base. The verse speaks of the ending of a youthful heart and the embrace of death. The intrigue surrounding the sculpture doesn't end there, as it was also said to have inspired Ingmar Bergman's film, The Seventh Seal.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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