Paul Gauguin - Post-Impressionist Genius & the Father of Modern Fauvism
The Post-Impressionist painter, Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin or Paul Gauguin, was born into a middle-class family on June 7, 1848, in Paris to a French father, Clovis Gauguin, who was a journalist by profession and a Spanish Peruvian mother, Aline Maria Chazal.
In 1851, Gauguin moved to Peru with his family because of the political turmoil in France.
On his way to Peru, the artist lost his father and thereafter spent four years of his childhood in Lima with his mother and sister.
At the age of seven, Gauguin returned to France with his family.
During his subsequent adolescent years, Paul stayed in his father's hometown in Orleans, where his mother worked as a tailor.
He later returned to Paris and attended a seminary school where he excelled in studies.
At the age of seventeen, Paul Gauguin started working on a commercial ship.
Three years later, he joined navy and stayed there for two years.
In 1871, he finally settled down as a stockbroker and also started painting and building an art collection.
Gauguin married a middle class Danish woman, Mette Sophie Gad, in 1873 and had five children with her.
Paul Gauguin learned the art of painting and modeling on his own.
In 1874, he befriended Pissarro, who introduced him to the Impressionist landscape and gave him the sense of pictorial themes.
In the year 1876, he was accepted to the Salon, and from 1879 to 1886, took part in several Impressionist exhibitions.
Paul Gauguin had his own style of painting, which he termed "Synthetism.
" Synthetism involved less naturalistic style and emphasized more on the use of pure color patterns, strong, expressive outlines, and flat planes as seen in the "Nude Study" or "Suzanne Sewing (1881)," and "Yellow Artist (1889).
" Yellow Artist was carrying the influence of Cloisonnism style.
In 1884 Gauguin moved with his family to Copenhagen to move on alone pick the job of a full time painter in Paris eventually in 1885.
In 1888, Gauguin spent few weeks with his friend, Vincent Van Gogh, in Arles, where he suffered from the periods of depression, and even attempted suicide.
Paul Gauguin was frustrated with European Impressionism, which he thought was shallow and imitative and was more attracted towards the mystical art of Africa and Asia, especially that of Japan, known as Japonism.
In 1891, the artist journeyed to the Tropics and stayed there for the rest of his life.
Under the influence of Tahitian and Polynesian setting, Gauguin started painting more powerful, distinctive, and simplified compositions.
He painted "La Orana Maria (1891)," "Spirit of the Dead watching (1892)," and "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897).
" Gauguin passed away on May 8, 1903 at Atuana in Marquesas.
He is often regarded as the father of Fauvist style modern art, who led the artistry to Primitivism, and has influenced several artists like Edvard Munch & Arthur Frank Mathews.
In 1851, Gauguin moved to Peru with his family because of the political turmoil in France.
On his way to Peru, the artist lost his father and thereafter spent four years of his childhood in Lima with his mother and sister.
At the age of seven, Gauguin returned to France with his family.
During his subsequent adolescent years, Paul stayed in his father's hometown in Orleans, where his mother worked as a tailor.
He later returned to Paris and attended a seminary school where he excelled in studies.
At the age of seventeen, Paul Gauguin started working on a commercial ship.
Three years later, he joined navy and stayed there for two years.
In 1871, he finally settled down as a stockbroker and also started painting and building an art collection.
Gauguin married a middle class Danish woman, Mette Sophie Gad, in 1873 and had five children with her.
Paul Gauguin learned the art of painting and modeling on his own.
In 1874, he befriended Pissarro, who introduced him to the Impressionist landscape and gave him the sense of pictorial themes.
In the year 1876, he was accepted to the Salon, and from 1879 to 1886, took part in several Impressionist exhibitions.
Paul Gauguin had his own style of painting, which he termed "Synthetism.
" Synthetism involved less naturalistic style and emphasized more on the use of pure color patterns, strong, expressive outlines, and flat planes as seen in the "Nude Study" or "Suzanne Sewing (1881)," and "Yellow Artist (1889).
" Yellow Artist was carrying the influence of Cloisonnism style.
In 1884 Gauguin moved with his family to Copenhagen to move on alone pick the job of a full time painter in Paris eventually in 1885.
In 1888, Gauguin spent few weeks with his friend, Vincent Van Gogh, in Arles, where he suffered from the periods of depression, and even attempted suicide.
Paul Gauguin was frustrated with European Impressionism, which he thought was shallow and imitative and was more attracted towards the mystical art of Africa and Asia, especially that of Japan, known as Japonism.
In 1891, the artist journeyed to the Tropics and stayed there for the rest of his life.
Under the influence of Tahitian and Polynesian setting, Gauguin started painting more powerful, distinctive, and simplified compositions.
He painted "La Orana Maria (1891)," "Spirit of the Dead watching (1892)," and "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897).
" Gauguin passed away on May 8, 1903 at Atuana in Marquesas.
He is often regarded as the father of Fauvist style modern art, who led the artistry to Primitivism, and has influenced several artists like Edvard Munch & Arthur Frank Mathews.
