Model from Robert Doisneau’s ‘The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville’ Passes Away | Release #56

The model from Robert Doisneau’s legendary photograph ‘The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville,’ which captured a couple exchanging a vow of love on a Parisian street, has passed away at the age of 93. This black-and-white image, depicting a serene moment of intimacy between lovers against the vibrant backdrop of 1950s Paris, was part of a series commissioned by Life magazine, themed around lovers in Paris. Françoise Delbart (later Françoise Bornet) and her partner Jacques Carteaud are seen sharing a gentle kiss, seemingly isolated from the bustling city around them.

While ‘The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville’ captures a fleeting moment of love between a couple amidst the vibrancy of Parisian life, not everything about the image was spontaneous. In reality, Robert Doisneau himself spotted the pair in a café and asked them to pose for a kiss in a specific manner.

When it was later revealed that this seemingly candid work was in fact staged, it sparked debate within the art world. Yet, what is it about this orchestrated ‘decisive moment’ that continues to captivate viewers?

Perhaps it is the universality of love and the emotional resonance it evokes—even in a constructed moment—that allows the photograph to move us so deeply.

For many years, the photograph remained unseen, tucked away in the archives. However, after its rediscovery in the early 1980s, ‘The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville’ became one of the most recognized images symbolizing urban romance, with over 400,000 poster-sized prints sold.

Yet, alongside this commercial triumph, several other couples came forward claiming to be the subjects in the photograph, leading to a series of lawsuits seeking compensation for the use of the image. Ultimately, these claims were dismissed in court, but the legal disputes cast a shadow over the romance of the work.

Françoise Delbart, who passed away at 93, will forever be remembered as part of this timeless masterpiece. After parting ways with her former lover Jacques Carteaud, she built a career in the film industry and continued to contribute to the arts and culture throughout her life. Even after Robert Doisneau’s passing in 1994 and Carteaud’s in 2006, this photograph remains a beloved emblem of love and youth for generations.

cover image by Sentimental_Jong