The cemetery was originally built in the 18th century. Barcelona needed a safe place outside the old city walls to bury victims of plagues and epidemics. Over time, it became not only a burial ground but also a place where families showed their status through artistic tombs and sculptures.

The cemetery was rebuilt in the 19th century after being destroyed during a political revolt. This is why today you will find a mix of neoclassical, romantic, and modernist styles—reflecting how Barcelona grew and changed through the centuries.

“The Kiss of Death” (in Catalan “El Petó de la Mort”) is the most famous sculpture inside Cementiri del Poblenou, and honestly, one of the most striking monuments I have ever seen in a cemetery.
Who Created It?

The sculpture was officially created in 1930 by the Barcelona sculptor Jaume Barba, a craftsman known for his work on funerary art.
However, there is an interesting curiosity:
Many historians believe that the original design might have been made by Joan Fontbernat, Barba’s father-in-law. This has created a small mystery in Barcelona art history—who truly “imagined” the Kiss of Death?

The common agreement today is:

Jaume Barba: sculptor who carved the monument
Joan Fontbernat: likely provided the artistic design

This combination is part of what makes the sculpture so unique.
The Original Purpose

The statue was created for the Llaudet family tomb, a respected Catalan family from the early 20th century.
They wanted a powerful and dramatic symbol on their family grave—something that would speak about the fragility of life and the sudden arrival of death.

And Barba delivered exactly that.