Cheek kissing of kisses is found in Switzerland. In Francophone Belgium, the custom is usually one or three kisses, and is also common between men who are friends. In Northern European countries such as Sweden and Germany, hugs are preferred to kisses. It is customary in many regions to only have kisses between women and women, but not men and women, who only shake hands or hug (more familiar) instead. Although cheek kissing is not as widely practiced in the United Kingdom or Ireland as in other parts of Europe, it is still commonplace. Generally, a kiss on one cheek is commonplace,
A Man Smoking and a Woman Drinking in a Courtyard A Man Smoking and a Woman Drinking in a Courtyard A Man Smoking and a Woman Drinking in a Courtyard (1658–1660) is an oil on canvas painting by the Dutch painter Pieter de Hooch; it is an example of Dutch Golden Age painting and is part of the collection of the Mauritshuis. This painting by Hooch was documented by Hofstede de Groot in 1910, who wrote:297. COURTYARD WITH A MAN SMOKING AND A WOMAN DRINKING. Sm. 30 ; de G. 56. This picture corresponds precisely to the Rothschild picture (295), except that the figure of the second man is here