Paul Gauguin
Discover the life, artistic evolution, bold experiments, and enduring influence of Paul Gauguin (1848–1903). From stockbroker to Post-Impressionist pioneer, his journey to the South Pacific reshaped modern art.
Introduction
Paul Gauguin (born Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin on 7 June 1848 – died 8 May 1903) is one of the pivotal figures in late 19th-century art whose departure from European convention, embrace of color symbolism, and quest for a more “primitive” aesthetic deeply influenced modernism.
Although his work was only modestly celebrated during his lifetime, his innovations in color, form, and subject matter later became foundational to developments in Symbolism, Primitivism, and various early 20th-century avant-garde movements.
Early Life and Family
Gauguin was born in Paris to Clovis Gauguin, a liberal journalist originally from Orléans, and Aline Chazal. Flora Tristan, an activist and early socialist writer.
In 1850, when Paul was still a child, his family relocated to Lima, Peru, where he spent part of his early childhood and was exposed to different cultures and landscapes—an experience that later influenced his artistic imagination.
Later, the family returned to France after financial reversals. Gauguin attended several schools, including a Catholic seminary, and was for a time enrolled in a naval preparatory institution before returning to civilian life in France.
Youth, Education & Early Career
Though Gauguin had periods of formal schooling, his artistic education was largely informal and self-driven.
As a young adult, he served briefly in the merchant marine and later in the French navy.
During his years as a stockbroker, Gauguin painted in his spare time. His involvement in the art world grew through friendships with artists like Camille Pissarro, who encouraged him to exhibit and introduced him to other artistic circles.
Artistic Breakthrough & Travels
Transition to Full-Time Artist
A financial depression in 1882 diminished Gauguin’s income from his brokerage work, prompting him to commit more fully to painting.
He spent some time in Brittany (notably Pont-Aven) among an artists’ colony, where he explored new ideas in palette, form, and symbolism, breaking away from strict naturalism.
Martinique, Tahiti, and the South Seas
In 1887, Gauguin traveled to Martinique in the Caribbean, which deeply affected his aesthetic outlook—he experimented with color, directness, and exotic subject matter.
His most famous voyages began in 1891, when he sailed to Tahiti aiming to escape European civilization and seek a more primitive and spiritual milieu.
He later relocated to the Marquesas Islands (in French Polynesia), settling on Hiva-Oa in his final years.
Style, Themes & Innovations
From Impressionism to Symbolism & Primitivism
While Gauguin initially moved within Impressionist circles, he soon diverged, developing an aesthetic that favored flat planes of saturated color, simplified shapes, symbolic content, and emotional resonance over visual accuracy.
He is associated with Synthetism, a style emphasizing the combination of three elements: the outward appearance of natural forms, the artist’s feelings about the subject, and pure artistic aesthetics (line, color, design).
His work often reveals Symbolist undertones—using mythology, spiritual themes, and internal states as creative material.
Subject Matter & Motifs
Gauguin’s subject matter shifted markedly after his journeys. His works in Polynesia depict local people, myth, nature, and ritual. He sought to evoke a timeless, spiritual dimension, often blending Christian iconography with native symbolism.
Some of his famous works:
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Spirit of the Dead Watching
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Where Do We Come From? What Are We? What Are We Doing?
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When Will You Marry?
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Ta Matete / O Taiti (Nevermore)
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Mahina no atua (Day of the God)
He also produced prints, woodcuts, ceramics, and sculptures.
Technique & Materials
Gauguin experimented with unconventional media. He used peinture à l’essence (oil paint thinned with solvent) to reduce gloss and achieve matte surfaces.
In printmaking, Gauguin revived and reinvented woodcut techniques (e.g. Noa Noa Suite) that integrated bold design, abstraction, and flat color.
He also produced zincographs (e.g. the Volpini Suite) and experimented with monotypes.
Later Life & Death
Gauguin’s final years in the Marquesas were marked by declining health, financial struggles, and isolation.
On 8 May 1903, Gauguin died in Atuona, Hiva-Oa, aged 54.
Legacy & Influence
Gauguin’s influence extends strongly into 20th-century art.
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His break from naturalism and his use of color, flatness, and symbolic content inspired artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and others involved in Fauvism, Cubism, and abstraction.
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His posthumous exhibitions (notably those at the Salon d'Automne in 1903 and 1906) fueled avant-garde developments in Paris.
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Gauguin is often regarded as a key figure in the development of Primitivism, albeit a controversial one given issues of colonial context, encounter with indigenous cultures, and ethical questions of representation.
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His works command extremely high prices in the art market; for instance, When Will You Marry? has been sold for over USD 200 million in private transactions.
His life and art have also inspired literature, notably W. Somerset Maugham’s The Moon and Sixpence, which fictionalizes Gauguin’s journey from respectable life to Polynesian exile.
Personality, Contradictions & Critique
Gauguin is a complex, often contradictory figure. He sought both a spiritual refuge in remote lands and a self-fashioned exotic persona.
His relationships with local people, especially young Polynesian women, have been criticized posthumously for exploitation and colonial power imbalance. Contemporary scholarship grapples with these moral and cultural contradictions.
He also struggled with addiction, health problems, and poverty. In his letters and writings, one finds a restless, searching, sometimes tormented personal sensibility.
Notable Quotes & Writings
While Gauguin is better known for his visual art, his writings and letters contain illuminating reflections. Some notable thoughts:
“I shut my eyes in order to see.”
“I am not an outsider — I am looking for an inner truth.”
“Art is either plagiarism or rebellion.”
“The artist cannot flee from responsibilities; he must portray his times.”
These are paraphrased from various letters and interviews, showing his belief that art must express something beyond surface appearances — a deeper internal or spiritual vision.
Lessons from Paul Gauguin
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Break conventions when they become limiting
Gauguin’s departure from Impressionism and embrace of bold color and symbolism shows that evolution often comes through deliberate rupture. -
Synthesize influences
He blended European tradition with non-European motifs, spirituality, and myth—creating hybrid forms that transcended simple categorization. -
Art as personal pilgrimage
His travels and self-imposed exile were part of his artistic quest; art for him was a journey of identity and spiritual search. -
Ethical awareness matters
The controversies in Gauguin’s legacy remind us that aesthetic ambition must reckon with cultural context, power, and respect for others. -
Legacy can eclipse immediate reception
Gauguin was not fully recognized in his lifetime, but consistent commitment to his vision allowed his influence to expand posthumously.
Conclusion
Paul Gauguin remains one of the most fascinating, controversial, and influential artists in modern art history. His bold experiments with color, symbolism, and cultural encounter opened paths for movements that followed. Yet, his life also embodies the tensions of colonial encounter, personal ambition, and moral ambiguity.