Paul Gauguin

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Paul Gauguin: The Artist Who Escaped Civilization

Paul Gauguin was a French post-impressionist painter who shocked the art world by abandoning both his successful banking career and European society in pursuit of artistic authenticity. Born in 1848, Gauguin initially lived a conventional bourgeois life in Paris, working as a stockbroker and collecting impressionist paintings as a hobby. However, his passion for art eventually consumed him, leading to one of the most dramatic career changes in art history. When he picked up a paintbrush professionally in his thirties, he was already determined to break free from the artistic traditions of his time.

Driven by a desire to escape what he saw as the corruption and artificiality of Western civilization, Gauguin embarked on a series of journeys that would define both his art and his legend. He first sought inspiration in rural Brittany, then made his famous voyage to Tahiti in 1891, where he created some of his most celebrated works. His bold use of color, simplified forms, and symbolic approach to painting influenced countless artists and helped pave the way for modern art movements like Fauvism and Expressionism. Though he died in poverty in the Marquesas Islands in 1903, Gauguin's quest for artistic freedom and his exotic, dreamlike paintings of Polynesian life have made him one of art history's most fascinating and controversial figures.

Test your knowledge about this pioneering artist who traded Wall Street for the South Pacific in search of artistic truth!

Introduction

Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was a French Post-Impressionist artist whose bold use of color and distinctive style profoundly influenced modern art. Often considered a pioneer of Primitivism and Symbolism, Gauguin's work bridged the gap between Impressionism and the avant-garde movements of the 20th century.

"Art is an abstraction; derive this abstraction from nature while dreaming before it, and think more of the creation which will result than of nature." - Paul Gauguin

Key Facts at a Glance

Born: June 7, 1848, Paris, France
Died: May 8, 1903, Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands
Movement: Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Primitivism
Famous for: Bold colors, simplified forms, exotic subjects
Notable works: The Yellow Christ, When Will You Marry?, Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Family

Paul Gauguin was born into a middle-class Parisian family with diverse cultural influences:

Father: Clovis Gauguin, a liberal journalist
Mother: Aline Chazal, of Spanish-Peruvian descent
Grandmother: Flora Tristan, a prominent socialist activist and writer

Formative Experiences

Peru (1849-1855): After his father's death, young Paul lived with his mother's wealthy relatives in Lima, Peru. This early exposure to non-European culture would later influence his artistic vision.

Maritime Career (1865-1871): Gauguin served in the French merchant marine and later the navy, traveling to various ports and experiencing different cultures.

Business Career

Before becoming a full-time artist, Gauguin worked as:

Stockbroker in Paris (1872-1883)
Art collector and Sunday painter
Member of the bourgeois society with a comfortable income

Artistic Journey and Evolution

From Businessman to Artist

The Transition (1870s-1883)

Started painting as a hobby while working in finance
Collected works by Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, and other Impressionists
Met Pissarro, who became his mentor and introduced him to Impressionist techniques
Participated in Impressionist exhibitions from 1879-1886

The Great Decision (1883)

In 1883, Gauguin made the life-changing decision to abandon his lucrative career and pursue art full-time. This decision led to:

Financial hardship for his family
Strain on his marriage to Mette-Sophie Gad
Complete dedication to artistic development

Artistic Mentors and Influences

Mentor/Influence	Period	Impact
Camille Pissarro	1870s-1880s	Impressionist techniques, plein air painting
Paul Cézanne	1880s	Structural approach to form and color
Japanese Prints	1880s-1890s	Flat color planes, bold outlines
Breton Folk Art	1886-1894	Simplified forms, spiritual themes

Major Periods and Influences

1. Impressionist Period (1870s-1885)

Characteristics:

Traditional Impressionist techniques
Focus on light and atmosphere
Landscape and still-life subjects
Influence of Pissarro evident

Key Work: The Seine at the Pont d'Iéna (1875)

2. Pont-Aven Period (1886-1888, 1889-1890)

Gauguin's time in Pont-Aven, Brittany marked a crucial turning point:

Revolutionary Developments:

Development of Synthetism (synthesis of observation, memory, and emotion)
Cloisonnism technique (bold outlines separating color areas)
Collaboration with Émile Bernard and other avant-garde artists
Rejection of Impressionist naturalism

The Pont-Aven School: Gauguin became the leader of a group of artists who gathered in this small Breton village, seeking:

Authentic, primitive culture
Escape from modern industrial society
Spiritual and artistic renewal

Key Works:

Vision After the Sermon (1888)
The Yellow Christ (1889)

3. Arles Period (1888)

The Van Gogh Collaboration: Gauguin spent two months with Vincent van Gogh in Arles, resulting in:

Intense artistic exchange
Mutual influence on each other's work
Personal conflicts and van Gogh's mental breakdown
End of their friendship

4. First Tahitian Period (1891-1893)

Seeking the "primitive" and exotic, Gauguin traveled to Tahiti:

Motivations:

Escape European civilization
Find "authentic" primitive culture
Achieve artistic breakthrough
Financial necessity (cheaper living)

Artistic Developments:

Bold, non-naturalistic color
Simplified, monumental forms
Synthesis of Polynesian and European artistic traditions
Mythological and everyday subjects

Key Works:

When Will You Marry? (1892)
The Spirit of the Dead Watching (1892)

5. Return to France (1893-1895)

Brief return to Paris and Brittany:

Exhibition of Tahitian works (limited success)
Financial difficulties
Inheritance from uncle allowed return to Tahiti

6. Second Tahitian Period (1895-1901)

Mature Style Development:

Masterpiece creation period
Synthesis of all previous influences
Philosophical and spiritual themes
Declining health but artistic vigor

Key Work: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897-1898)

7. Marquesas Period (1901-1903)

Final phase in the Marquesas Islands:

Continued artistic production despite illness
Conflicts with colonial authorities
Death on May 8, 1903

Famous Works

Vision After the Sermon (Jacob Wrestling with the Angel) (1888)

Significance: Revolutionary work marking Gauguin's break from Impressionism

Technical Innovations:

Cloisonnism: Bold black outlines
Non-naturalistic color: Vermillion ground
Symbolic content: Biblical scene in Breton setting
Compositional boldness: Diagonal tree trunk dividing sacred and profane

Interpretation: Represents the power of faith and imagination over reality

The Yellow Christ (1889)

Context: Painted in Pont-Aven, inspired by a medieval crucifix in a local chapel

Artistic Elements:

Simplified forms: Reduction to essential elements
Symbolic color: Yellow representing divine light and spiritual transformation
Cultural synthesis: Christian iconography in Breton landscape
Emotional expression: Melancholy and spiritual yearning

When Will You Marry? (Nafea Faa Ipoipo) (1892)

Historical Note: Sold for approximately $300 million in 2015, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold

Artistic Features:

Exotic Orientalism: Romanticized view of Tahitian culture
Decorative style: Influenced by Japanese prints and Polynesian art
Color harmony: Rich, saturated hues
Cultural appropriation questions: Modern criticism of Gauguin's colonial perspective

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897-1898)

Gauguin's Testament: Considered his masterpiece and philosophical statement

Composition Analysis:

Right to left narrative: Life cycle from birth to death
Symbolic figures: Each represents different life stages
Color symbolism: Blues for mystery, yellows for divine, earth tones for mortality
Scale: Monumental size (139 cm × 375 cm) emphasizing importance

Philosophical Themes:

Existential questions about human condition
Synthesis of Christian and Polynesian spiritual concepts
Artist's personal meditation on life and death

Artistic Style and Techniques

Color Theory and Usage

Revolutionary Color Approach:

Arbitrary color: Colors chosen for emotional/symbolic rather than naturalistic reasons
Pure pigments: Often applied directly from tube without mixing
Color contrasts: Bold juxtapositions for maximum visual impact
Symbolic associations: Colors carry specific meanings (yellow=divine, red=passion, etc.)

Compositional Techniques

Cloisonnism

Definition: Technique using bold outlines to separate color areas
Origin: Inspired by medieval cloisonné enamel work
Effect: Creates decorative, stained-glass-like appearance
Influence: Adopted by other Post-Impressionist artists

Synthetism

Concept: Synthesis of three elements:
1. Observation of nature
2. Memory of previous experiences
3. Emotion and imagination
Goal: Create art that goes beyond mere representation
Legacy: Influenced abstract art development

Drawing and Form

Characteristics:

Simplified forms: Reduction to essential shapes
Flattened perspective: Rejection of Renaissance spatial illusion
Decorative emphasis: Pattern and design over naturalistic representation
Primitivist influence: Inspiration from non-Western art forms

Personal Life and Relationships

Family and Marriage

Marriage to Mette-Sophie Gad (1873):

Danish woman from bourgeois family
Five children together
Marriage strained by Gauguin's career change
Separation when family moved to Denmark (1884)
Lifelong correspondence but limited contact

Key Relationships

Vincent van Gogh

Period: 1888 collaboration in Arles
Dynamics: Mutual respect but personality conflicts
Artistic impact: Both influenced each other's work
Tragic end: Van Gogh's mental breakdown ended friendship

Émile Bernard

Role: Young artist and theoretical collaborator
Contribution: Co-developed Synthetism and Cloisonnism
Relationship: Initially close, later competitive
Legacy: Helped establish Gauguin's theoretical foundations

Charles Laval

Connection: Fellow artist and travel companion
Shared experiences: Traveled together to Panama and Martinique (1887)
Artistic exchange: Mutual influence during tropical period

Tahitian Relationships

Teha'amana (first Tahitian wife):

13-year-old girl who became his companion
Subject of several paintings
Relationship reflects colonial power dynamics

Pau'ura (second Tahitian wife):

Mother of his daughter Aline
Continued relationship until his death

Personality and Character

Complex Individual:

Arrogant and self-promoting: Often exaggerated his primitive lifestyle
Intellectually curious: Well-read in literature and philosophy
Rebellious: Rejected bourgeois society and artistic conventions
Contradictory: Sought primitive life while maintaining European cultural superiority

Legacy and Impact

Influence on Modern Art Movements

Fauvism

Color liberation: Arbitrary use of color influenced Henri Matisse and André Derain