Just Kids.. with some dreams and some paintbrushes

I've been reading a lot recently about Patti Smith's new novel, Just Kids, which came out in January-- I personally can't wait to get my hands on a copy. The legendary rock star and poet's first novel offers a "never-before-seen glimpse" of her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe and their life in New York City in the late sixties and seventies during the prelude to their imminent fame. I read an excerpt recently, I think either in Rolling Stone or Interview, in which Smith recalls how she and Mapplethorpe would buy art supplies before food-- and how they made a pact to continue creating and to take care of each other no matter what happened. It's easy to idealize the bohemian, starving-artist lifestyle (I am admittedly guilty of doing so), but what I read of Smith and Mapplethorpe's seemingly passionate and creativity-fueled love struck me as beautiful and got me thinking of other (often star-cross'd) bohemian lovers-- Above, a picture of Mapplethorpe and Smith in NYC in the 70's. Below, a few more of my favorites:

John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Even though she broke up the band, I still love her. And this iconic image by Annie Leibovitz, which appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in 1980.

Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull.

Anna Karina and Jean-Luc Godard. Apparently some of the lines from Pierrot Le Fou (1965) were improvised; Godard had Belmondo and Karina simply make conversation without telling them the camera was rolling. He ended up using a great deal of footage from these "improvisations." There's a specific scene in the film, too, in which Karina is staring directly into the camera while she berates "Pierrot"-- and word has it that her tirade was the result of a real argument with Godard, her then-husband, who promptly taped it and put it in the film.

Marie Antoinette and Count Fersen (film still from Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette). The infamous queen's relationship with her husband, Louis XVI (whose greatest passion and hobby was lock-picking... ironic?) was less than perfect. So what's a girl to do in that situation? Take up a dashing Swedish lover, of course. Even better, one who resembles Jamie Dornan. Say what you will about the historical inaccuracy and disjointedness of the film; their love scene is set to "Kings of the Wild Frontier" by Adam & The Ants and is, in my opinion, perfect.

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin... (can you see their traits in Charlotte?)

The always-classy Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen..

Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash

...and of course, Kate Moss and Johnny Depp circa the early 90's (by Annie Leibovitz). The most physically perfect couple to ever exist. Tell me again why they broke up???