signed in ink, 'Sygma' agency stamps and title, date, and annotation typed on the reverse, 1979

Paris Match, 19 October 1979, no. 1586, pp. 116-7

This photograph, on Kodak paper with a glossy surface, is in generally very good condition. There are a few small handling creases, mainly in the upper half of the image, that do not appear to break the emulsion. There is wear and chipping to the edges and corners. The upper right corner has a tiny loss of emulsion that has been retouched, which is only visible upon very close examination. In raking light, fingerprints are visible overall and impressions from the signature on the reverse are visible in the lower left quadrant. On the reverse, 'Photo by Régis Bossu' is written by the photographer in ink. The reverse is also extensively annotated as follows: LES PHOTOS DE L'ANNEE 1979 BONS BAISERS DE BERLIN BERLIN – R. D. A. – 5 OCTOBRE 1979 UN TENDRE BAISER A SCELLE LES RETROUVAILLES A BERLIN DE M. LEONID BREJNEV AVEC LE PRESIDENT ERICH HONNECKER [sic] A L'OCCASION DE L'ARRIVEE DU PREMIER SECRETAIRE DU P.C. SOVIETIQUE VENU ASSISTER A LA COMMEMORATION DU 30e ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA FONDATION DE LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE ALLEMANDE PHOTOS : REGIS BOSSU/SYGMA 171 513 1979 PHOTO ROUNDUP KISSES FROM BERLIN BERLIN. G. D. R. OCT. 5 1979 PRESIDENT LEONID BREZHNEV OF THE USSR WAS IN EAST GERMANY FOR THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE COUNTRY AND KISSED PRESIDENT ERICH HONNECKER [sic] ON ARRIVAL .
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

In October 1979, Régis Bossu, a freelance photographer for the French photography agency Sygma, travelled to East Berlin to photograph the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the German Democratic Republic. The honored guest was Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. At the end of Brezhnev's speech, the East German President Erich Honecker opened his arms to congratulate Brezhnev with a fraternal kiss, and the moment was fortuitously captured by Bossu.

Many magazines were quick to publish the image, including Paris Match, which devoted a double-page spread to the photograph with the caption 'The Provocation Against Europe - The Kiss of Leonid to Erich.'  This iconic image has since been reproduced more than 500 times. In 1990, immediately after the ‘fall’ of the Berlin Wall, Russian artist Dmitry Vrubel painted an in𓆉terpretation of the image on a remaining section of the wall. Beneath the kiss, the following was written in both Russian and German: 'My God, Help Me to Survive this Deadly Love.' In 2011, United Colors of Benetton embarked on 💙an advertising campaign directly influenced by Bossu's photograph.  It is believed that this is the first time an early print of this image has been offered at auction.