In the spring of 1950, one of the most iconic images of the 20th century was taken by French photographer Robert Doisneau, chronicling two Parisian lovers during a deep romantic embrace, kissing each other.
The photo itself became a phenomenon in the 1980s as it was plastered on a poster and became a symbol of postwar jubilance, which brought in fame alongside some legal troubles.
Recently, Francoise Bornet, the woman whose moment in Paris is forever memorialized in "The Kiss by the Hotel de Ville" photo, passed away at 93 in her home in Evreux, Normandy, as reported by London's The Times.
PARIS, FRANCE: The woman featured in Robert Doisneau's photograph "Baiser de l'Hotel de Ville" (Kiss at City Hall), Francoise Bornet and her husband pose, 25 April 2005 at the Dassault auction house in Paris where a print of the photograph sold for 155,000 euro.
A Moment in 1950 Paris, Frozen in Time
Bornet, who was 20 at the time, was originally known through her maiden name Delbart and was studying at the Cours Simon acting studio together with her then-boyfriend, Jacques Carteaud.
The couple was enjoying a quaint date together when they were approached by Doisneau, who was in the process of fulfilling a commission from the American magazine Life to record the various romantic moments in Paris.
In an interview with La Dépêche d'Évreux, Bornet said: "I was with my lover. We couldn't stop kissing. We were kissing everywhere. All the time. Robert Doisneau was in the bar, he asked us to pose for him."
The French photographer has always been transparent in the "orchestrated" nature of the photo and was celebrated for his talent in creating a memorable scene. However, during its initial publication in Life, the photo did not immediately "take off" and was eventually forgotten.
That said, it developed soaring notoriety as it was brought back in the '80s in the form of posters and postcards.
The company responsible for the production of the posters recognized the growing fame of their merchandise and decided to expand by putting it into everything, from shower curtains to mugs.
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"The Kiss by the Hotel de Ville" Across Decades
Decades after the photograph was initially taken, it had become its own "idol-like" entity, representing a nostalgic kind of impulsive young romance set in the backdrop of the world's "love capital," Paris.
In Bornet's case, who had been acting for a living all the while, had eventually moved on and married a different man bearing her current surname. Similarly, Carteaud had also married someone else, opting for a career in wine-making.
The photo wasn't free from any drama, though. In 1988, it was featured on the cover of a French cultural magazine called "Télérama" and consequently caused an avalanche of claims from French couples taking the credit of being the photograph's subjects.
Most of these people submitted legal complaints regarding ownership rights over the image, but not one case was entertained.
The record was eventually set straight and Bornet received rightful recognition for the photo. However, she wasn't awarded any financial compensation since her face wasn't recognizable and was covered up by the kiss.
Later on, Bornet told French media of her frustrations over the legal incidents, saying, "It was as if they had stolen my memories - and they were delightful memories of youth, pleasant and tender."
The iconic lady eventually got her due compensation, in a way, when an original copy of the photograph that she got from Doisneau sold in an auction for over €150,000, or $164,000.
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