Paul Gauguin – Part 2
April 11th 2008 00:05
Paul Gauguin goes native
Continuing on from my Paul Gauguin post earlier in the week, it is now time to observe the major shift his work took in the latter part of his career.
Determined to evolve as an artist and look for more expressionistic styles, in the 1880’s Gauguin began his obsession with what was seen as less civilised art. Deciding to escape the limitations of European society in 1881 Gaugin travelled to the tropics and immersed himself in the influences of the region.
Getting back to nature and a more primal style he settled in the Polynesian Islands and quested to live a simpler life in order to find purity in his work that captured the essence of his subjects.
From wikipedia:
“Under the influence of folk art and Japanese prints, Gauguin evolved towards Cloisonnism, a style given its name by the critic Édouard Dujardin in response to Emile Bernard's cloisonne enamelling technique.”
Opposed to colonialism and inspired by religious imagery “The Yellow Christ” has become one of the ultimate examples of this stye.
At 51 years of age Gaugin moved to Punaauia and amongst many monumental renderings he created what many see as his masterpiece titled “Where Do We Come From”.
Continuing to provoke he wrote a biographical book Avant et après which observed Polynesian life and also reflected on his own experiences. Conflicting with Church and State Gauguin was to be imprisoned in 1903 but died of Syphilis.
Now seen as one of the most important figures in art History Paul Gauguin is to be admired and respected but is also a testament to the damaged psyche of true innovators.
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