Paul Gauguin

Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin, born June 7, 1848 in Paris, was a French post-impressionist whose use of color and synthetic style set him apart from his contemporaries. Gauguin began his career as a stockbroker before devoting himself fully to art. His early works were impressionistic, but he gradually developed a distinctive style influenced by the cultures and landscapes he discovered on his travels, particularly in Tahiti and other parts of Polynesia. Gauguin's life was marked by financial difficulties, health problems and a constant feeling of dissatisfaction with European civilization, which drove him to look for a simpler life far away.

Gauguin's work is characterized by his experimental use of color, his rejection of perspective representation and his turn to flat, decorative elements. His time in Tahiti was particularly productive; He attempted to capture local life and culture in his works, but often idealized them, creating an exoticized vision of the island that attracted both criticism and admiration. Gauguin's influence on 20th century art, particularly the Fauvists and the Expressionists, is undeniable. Despite his success during his lifetime, Gauguin did not become a legendary figure in art history until his death on May 8, 1903 in Atuona, Marquesas Islands.

Interesting fact:

What is perhaps less well known is that before his career as an artist, Gauguin went to sea and even helped build the Panama Canal. These experiences shaped his view of the world and influenced his later decision to leave Europe and live in the South Seas, where he sought a more authentic, unspoilt lifestyle.

Important works of art & images by Paul Gauguin:

1. "Vision after the Sermon" (1888)
2. "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?" (1897-1898)
3. "The Yellow Christ" (1889)
4. "Tahitian Women on the Beach" (1891)
5. "Spirit of the Dead Awakens" (1892)
6. "Nafea faa ipoipo (When are you getting married?)" (1892)
7. "The Day of the Gods" (1894)
8. "Young Tahitian Woman with Mango" (1896)
9. "Te aa no areois" (The Seed of the Areoi) (1892)
10. "Hina Te Fatu (The Moon and the Earth)" (1893)