8.3 Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin, a French Post-Impressionist artist, revolutionized art with his bold colors and Synthetist style. His work diverged from Impressionism, influencing avant-garde artists like Picasso and Matisse. Gauguin's unique approach blended Western techniques with non-Western influences.

Gauguin's journey from Paris to Brittany and eventually Tahiti shaped his artistic vision. His paintings, characterized by vivid hues and simplified forms, often depicted spiritual themes and exotic cultures. Despite struggling during his lifetime, Gauguin's legacy grew posthumously, impacting various 20th-century art movements.

Life and career of Paul Gauguin

• French Post-Impressionist artist known for his experimental use of color and Synthetist style that were distinctly different from Impressionism
• Gauguin's work was influential to the French avant-garde and many modern artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse
• His art became popular after his death, partially from the efforts of art dealer Ambroise Vollard, who organized exhibitions of his work late in his career

Early years and influences

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• Born in Paris in 1848 to Clovis Gauguin and Aline Marie Chazal
• Spent early years in Peru with his family, where he was exposed to non-Western arts and culture
• Served in the French Navy and later worked as a stockbroker in Paris
• Began painting as a hobby and was influenced by the Impressionists, particularly Camille Pissarro

Impressionist period in Paris

• Exhibited with the Impressionists in the late 1870s and early 1880s
• Became close friends with Edgar Degas and Paul Cézanne
• Paintings from this period, such as The Market Gardens of Vaugirard (1879), show the influence of Pissarro and Impressionism
• Slowly developed his own style, using bolder colors and simplified forms

Travels to Brittany and Martinique

• Visited Brittany in northwestern France in the mid-1880s, where he was inspired by the rural landscape and folk art
• Paintings like Vision After the Sermon (1888) demonstrate his move towards Synthetism, with flat areas of color and simplified forms
• Traveled to Martinique in 1887, where he was further influenced by the tropical landscape and non-Western culture

Pivotal move to Tahiti

• Seeking a more primitive lifestyle, Gauguin left France for Tahiti in 1891
• Immersed himself in the local culture, marrying a native woman and adopting their customs
• Created some of his most famous works during this period, such as Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897-98)
• His Tahitian paintings are characterized by bright colors, simplified forms, and a sense of spiritual mysticism

Final years in the Marquesas Islands

• Moved to the Marquesas Islands in 1901 after experiencing legal and health problems in Tahiti
• Continued to paint and made wood carvings and transfer drawings
• Died in 1903 at the age of 54, largely unknown and unappreciated in his lifetime
• Legacy grew posthumously, as his work influenced many 20th-century artists and art movements

Gauguin's artistic style and technique

• Pioneered Synthetism, a Post-Impressionist art movement that emphasized two-dimensional flat patterns, bold colors and simplified forms
• Influenced by various sources, including French medieval stained glass, Japanese ukiyo-e prints, and folk art from Brittany and Polynesia
• Sought to evoke emotion and meaning through color, form and symbolism rather than realistic representation

Evolution from Impressionism to Synthetism

• Early works show the influence of Impressionism, with loose brushstrokes and an emphasis on capturing the effects of light
• Gradually developed a more simplified, synthetic style in the late 1880s
• Emphasized flat, decorative patterns and arbitrary, non-naturalistic color

Bold colors and simplified forms

• Used bright, expressive colors to convey emotion and meaning
• Simplified forms into basic shapes and silhouettes, often outlined in dark contours
• Created a sense of depth through contrasting colors and patterns rather than traditional perspective

Influence of folk art and Japanese prints

• Inspired by the bold, flat patterns and stylized forms of medieval stained glass and folk art from Brittany
• Admired the simplified compositions, decorative quality and non-Western perspective of Japanese ukiyo-e prints
• Incorporated these elements into his own work to create a unique, hybrid style

Expressive brushwork and color symbolism

• Used loose, expressive brushstrokes to convey energy and emotion
• Colors were often symbolic rather than naturalistic, used to evoke certain moods or ideas
• Yellow, for example, was associated with spirituality, while red could symbolize passion or danger

Woodcuts, ceramics and sculpture

• Experimented with various media beyond painting, including woodcuts, transfer drawings, ceramics and wood carving
• Woodcuts and transfer drawings allowed him to create bold, graphic compositions with flat areas of color
• Created ceramic pieces and wood carvings inspired by Polynesian art and his spiritual beliefs

Major themes in Gauguin's work

• Explored various themes throughout his career, often reflecting his search for a more primitive, authentic way of life away from modern European society
• Themes include the search for spirituality, the beauty of nature, and the critique of Western civilization
• Also depicted Polynesian culture, mythology and the female form in a way that was both celebrating and exoticizing

Primitivism and exoticism

• Sought to escape modern European society by seeking out "primitive" cultures in places like Brittany and Polynesia
• Depicted these cultures as more pure, spiritual and closely connected to nature than the "corrupt" West
• Paintings often present an idealized, romanticized view of these cultures that can be seen as exoticizing or "othering"

Spirituality and mythology

• Interested in various spiritual and mythological traditions, including Christianity, Buddhism and Polynesian beliefs
• Paintings often depict religious scenes or figures, such as The Yellow Christ (1889) and The Spirit of the Dead Keeps Watch (1892)
• Used symbolism and color to convey spiritual ideas and emotions

Sexuality and the female form

• Many paintings depict nude or semi-nude Polynesian women, often in sensual or suggestive poses
• Reflects Gauguin's fascination with the female form and his idealized view of Polynesian culture as more sexually liberated than the West
• Has been criticized by some as objectifying and exoticizing Polynesian women

Landscapes and nature

• Painted many landscapes throughout his career, both in France and Polynesia
• Used bold, expressive colors and simplified forms to capture the essence and emotion of a scene rather than realistic details
• Landscapes often have a dreamlike, mystical quality that reflects Gauguin's spiritual and symbolic approach

Critiques of Western civilization

• Paintings often contrast the "primitive" and the "civilized," with the implication that Western society is corrupt and artificial
• The painting Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897-98) can be seen as a meditation on the meaning of life and a critique of Western materialism and colonialism
• At the same time, Gauguin's rejection of the West and idealization of "primitive" cultures has been criticized as a form of escapism and exoticism

Key paintings by Paul Gauguin

Vision After the Sermon (1888)

• Depicts Breton women in traditional dress leaving a church after a sermon, with a vision of Jacob wrestling an angel in the background
• Shows Gauguin's move towards Synthetism, with flat areas of bold color, simplified forms and a symbolic, dreamlike quality
• Demonstrates the influence of Japanese prints and medieval stained glass in the flattened perspective and outlined figures

The Yellow Christ (1889)

• Depicts the crucifixion of Christ in a bold, simplified style with a bright yellow background
• Reflects Gauguin's interest in religious symbolism and his use of color to convey emotion and meaning
• Shows the influence of folk art and medieval art in the flattened, frontal composition and stylized forms

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897-98)

• Large-scale painting (4'7" × 12'2") that Gauguin considered his masterpiece and the summation of his ideas
• Depicts various figures in a dreamlike Tahitian landscape, representing the cycle of life from birth to death
• Can be read as a meditation on the meaning of existence and a critique of Western colonialism and materialism
• Uses vivid, symbolic colors and simplified forms to create a sense of spiritual mystery and depth

Spirit of the Dead Watching (1892)

• Depicts a nude Tahitian girl lying on a bed, with the spirit of the dead watching over her in the form of an old woman
• Reflects Gauguin's interest in Polynesian spiritual beliefs and his idealized, exoticized view of Tahitian culture
• Uses bold, flat areas of color and simplified forms to create a sense of mystery and otherworldliness

Tahitian Women on the Beach (1891)

• Depicts two Tahitian women sitting on a beach, with a simplified, dreamlike background of sea and sky
• Shows Gauguin's use of bold, arbitrary color and his idealized, romanticized view of Tahitian life and culture
• Reflects his interest in the female form and his tendency to depict Polynesian women as sensual and exotic "others"

Gauguin's legacy and influence

• One of the most important and influential Post-Impressionist artists, alongside Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne
• Work had a profound impact on the development of modern art in the early 20th century
• Influenced various art movements and styles, including Symbolism, Fauvism, Expressionism and Primitivism
• Reputation and legacy have been controversial, with some seeing him as a great innovator and others as a problematic figure

Impact on Synthetism and Symbolism

• Pioneered the Synthetist style, which emphasized flat patterns, bold colors and simplified forms over realistic representation
• Influenced other Synthetist artists like Émile Bernard and Paul Sérusier
• Use of color and symbolism to convey meaning and emotion was an important precursor to Symbolism

Inspiration for Fauvism and Expressionism

• Bold, expressive use of color and simplified forms inspired the Fauves ("wild beasts"), including Henri Matisse and André Derain
• Emotional intensity and use of color to convey inner experience influenced German Expressionists like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Emil Nolde

Controversies around Gauguin's life

• Abandoned his wife and five children to pursue his art, first traveling to Brittany and Martinique and later to Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands
• Has been criticized for his treatment of women, particularly his relationships with young Polynesian girls
• Some see his idealization of "primitive" cultures as a form of exoticism and cultural appropriation

Gauguin's art market and collectors

• Gauguin struggled to sell his work during his lifetime and often lived in poverty
• After his death, his paintings began to attract the attention of collectors and fetch high prices
• In the early 20th century, important collectors like Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov acquired his work
• Gauguin's paintings have continued to sell for record prices at auction, with his 1892 painting Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) selling for $300 million in 2015

Gauguin in modern exhibitions and scholarship

• Major exhibitions of Gauguin's work have been held at museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Tate Modern
• Scholars have studied various aspects of Gauguin's life and work, including his technique, his symbolism, his primitivism, and his impact on modern art
• Some recent scholarship has focused on the problematic aspects of Gauguin's life and work, including his treatment of women and his exoticization of non-Western cultures
• Despite these controversies, Gauguin remains an important and influential figure in the history of modern art, whose bold innovations in color, form and symbolism continue to inspire artists and scholars today