Who was Paul Gauguin?
French post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin was an important figure in the Symbolist art movement of the early 1900s. His use of bold colors, exaggerated body proportions and stark contrasts in his paintings set him apart from his contemporaries and helped him pave the way for Primitivism. Gauguin often sought exotic environments, and spent time living and painting in Tahiti. Gauguin was one of the art world's more colorful characters. He referred to himself as a savage, and claimed to have Inca blood. Fond of alcohol and carousing, Gauguin eventually contracted syphilis.
Early life
Gauguin was born in Paris on June 7, 1848.
He lived 7 years in Lima due to his mother peruvian roots. Returning to Paris he gained work as a merchant marine. He was also in the French Navy for a time, and then worked as a stockbroker in Copenhagen.
By 1873, he was married with Mette Gad ( with whom he had five children) and settled in Paris as a stockbroker, thanks to his guardian Gustave Arosa, a wealthy Spanish financier in Paris with a formidable collection of modern French painting. Through Arosa, Gauguin developed an amateur interest in art. He met Camille Pissarro at Arosa's home and by 1879 became an unofficial pupil as well as patron of the artist.
Gauguin was invited to show at the group's fourth exhibition in 1879, and his work appeared among the works of Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and other artistic greats.
The Artist
He didn't have any art formal training. Gauguin followed his own vision, abandoning both his family and artistic conventions. He began painting in his spare time, but quickly became serious about his hobby. By 1883, Gauguin had stopped working as a stockbroker so that he could fully devote himself to his art. He also soon parted ways from his wife and children, and eventually went to Brittany, France. In 1888, Gauguin created one of his most famous paintings, "Vision of the Sermon." The following year, Gauguin painted "The Yellow Christ," a striking portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Van Gogh
He was friends with fellow artist Vincent van Gogh. In 1888, Gauguin and van Gogh spent several weeks together at van Gogh's home in Arles, but their time together ended after van Gogh pulled a razor on Gauguin during an argument. That same year, Gauguin produced the now-famous oil painting "Vision After the Sermon."
Tahiti
In 1891, Gauguin sought to escape the constructions of European society, and he thought that Tahiti might offer him some type of personal and creative freedom. Upon moving to Tahiti, Gauguin was disappointed to find that French colonial authorities had westernized much of the island, so he chose to settle among the native peoples, and away from the Europeans living in the capital.
In 1893, Gauguin returned to France to show some off his Tahitian pieces. The response to his artwork was mixed, and he failed to sell much. Critics and art buyers didn't know what to make his primitivist style. Before long, Gauguin returned to French Polynesia. He continued to paint during this time, creating one of his later masterpieces—the canvas painting "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" is Gauguin's depiction of the human life cycle.
In 1901, Gauguin moved to the more remote Marquesas Islands. By this time, his health had been declining; he had experienced several heart attacks, and continued to suffer from his advancing case of syphilis. On May 8, 1903, Gauguin died at his isolated island home, alone. He was nearly out of money at the time—it wasn't until after his death that Gauguin's art began receiving great acclaim, eventually influencing the likes of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Early life
Gauguin was born in Paris on June 7, 1848.
He lived 7 years in Lima due to his mother peruvian roots. Returning to Paris he gained work as a merchant marine. He was also in the French Navy for a time, and then worked as a stockbroker in Copenhagen.
By 1873, he was married with Mette Gad ( with whom he had five children) and settled in Paris as a stockbroker, thanks to his guardian Gustave Arosa, a wealthy Spanish financier in Paris with a formidable collection of modern French painting. Through Arosa, Gauguin developed an amateur interest in art. He met Camille Pissarro at Arosa's home and by 1879 became an unofficial pupil as well as patron of the artist.
Gauguin was invited to show at the group's fourth exhibition in 1879, and his work appeared among the works of Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and other artistic greats.
The Artist
He didn't have any art formal training. Gauguin followed his own vision, abandoning both his family and artistic conventions. He began painting in his spare time, but quickly became serious about his hobby. By 1883, Gauguin had stopped working as a stockbroker so that he could fully devote himself to his art. He also soon parted ways from his wife and children, and eventually went to Brittany, France. In 1888, Gauguin created one of his most famous paintings, "Vision of the Sermon." The following year, Gauguin painted "The Yellow Christ," a striking portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Van Gogh
He was friends with fellow artist Vincent van Gogh. In 1888, Gauguin and van Gogh spent several weeks together at van Gogh's home in Arles, but their time together ended after van Gogh pulled a razor on Gauguin during an argument. That same year, Gauguin produced the now-famous oil painting "Vision After the Sermon."
Tahiti
In 1891, Gauguin sought to escape the constructions of European society, and he thought that Tahiti might offer him some type of personal and creative freedom. Upon moving to Tahiti, Gauguin was disappointed to find that French colonial authorities had westernized much of the island, so he chose to settle among the native peoples, and away from the Europeans living in the capital.
In 1893, Gauguin returned to France to show some off his Tahitian pieces. The response to his artwork was mixed, and he failed to sell much. Critics and art buyers didn't know what to make his primitivist style. Before long, Gauguin returned to French Polynesia. He continued to paint during this time, creating one of his later masterpieces—the canvas painting "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" is Gauguin's depiction of the human life cycle.
In 1901, Gauguin moved to the more remote Marquesas Islands. By this time, his health had been declining; he had experienced several heart attacks, and continued to suffer from his advancing case of syphilis. On May 8, 1903, Gauguin died at his isolated island home, alone. He was nearly out of money at the time—it wasn't until after his death that Gauguin's art began receiving great acclaim, eventually influencing the likes of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
The client's profile
- Peruvian roots
- enjoys light
- enthusiasm for primitive art
- fascinated by Japanese prints
- likes bright colors
- taste for the exotic
- traveler
- hated "everything that is artificial and conventional"
- charismatic
- enjoyed freedom
- quick tempered
- eccentric
- believes that "Civilization is what makes you sick."
- "He's physically stronger than we are, so his passions must also be much stronger than ours. Then he's the father of children, then he has his wife and his children in Denmark, and at the same time he wants to go right to the other end of the globe to Martinique. It's horrifying, all the vice versa of incompatible desires and needs which that must cause him." ( Vincent van Gogh writing to Theo van Gogh in 1889 )
Things that influenced his art
I believe that the things that influenced his art are of great importance for the design.
Gauguin definitely had a taste for the exotic. When he was a rich man he collected paintings of the Impressionists, he was fascinated by the Japanese prints (an usual thing at that time after all) and showed enthusiasm for primitive art, people, lifestyle. But most of all he enjoyed freedom. Bellow are the things that I believe to have influenced him the most.
Peruvian roots
His mother was from Peru and he lived there some years and that is known to have influenced him. This might be a clue of why he used those colors in most of his paintings at artistic maturity.
Gauguin definitely had a taste for the exotic. When he was a rich man he collected paintings of the Impressionists, he was fascinated by the Japanese prints (an usual thing at that time after all) and showed enthusiasm for primitive art, people, lifestyle. But most of all he enjoyed freedom. Bellow are the things that I believe to have influenced him the most.
Peruvian roots
His mother was from Peru and he lived there some years and that is known to have influenced him. This might be a clue of why he used those colors in most of his paintings at artistic maturity.
Cezanne
Gauguin was fascinated by Cezanne and his art. He collected some of the artist's paintings and they had similar visions. He influenced his art as well as his personal life. Soon after Cezanne isolated himself from the modern society Gauguin headed to Tahiti.
Gauguin was fascinated by Cezanne and his art. He collected some of the artist's paintings and they had similar visions. He influenced his art as well as his personal life. Soon after Cezanne isolated himself from the modern society Gauguin headed to Tahiti.
Tahiti
Most of his famous paintings were painted there. The lifestyle of the Tahitian people suited him and inspired him the most.
Most of his famous paintings were painted there. The lifestyle of the Tahitian people suited him and inspired him the most.