Personality Paul Gauguin referred to himself as a savage. He followed his own vision and was a go getter. He was innovative. They also say he was a narcissists. They believed he suffered from this personality disorder that directly impacted to his creative artwork. He was also depressed and what time try to attempt suicide. He had a creative personality.
Temperament He didn’t have a temper, he was more of a free spirit. He had a tumultuous friendship with Vincent Van Gogh and one time they got into an argument and Van Gogh pulled a knife out on him. He had a beautiful artistic temperament. Family Life He was of Peruvian decent. In 1873, he married Mette-Sophie Gad. Over ten years they had five children, Emile, Aline, Clovis, Jean Rene, and Paul Rollon. In 1884 they moved to Denmark where he pursued a business career as a tarpaulin salesman. He couldn’t speak Dutch so it was unsuccessful. After 11 years of marriage, he was driven to paint full time and returned to Paris in 1885 after his wife and her family asked him to leave because he had renounced the values they shared.
Time Period His time period was from 1870’s with the impressionists. In 1873 when he became a stockbroker, he began painting in his free time. Gauguin showed paintings in impressionist exhibitions held in 1881 and 1882. Earlier a sculpture, of his son had been the only sculpture in the 4th impressionist exhibition of 1879. His paintings received dismissive reviews, although several of them are now highly regarded. He helped paved the way for Primitivism art movement.
Describe one work of art that you feel was the most significant piece your artist produced and in your own words explain why.
Description of painting: Manao Tupapau (The Spirit of the Dead Keeps Watch) (1892)
Why: This work was inspired by his wife. He came home late one night and found her naked in the tropical heat. I think it was most significant in his career because people didn’t value his work at the time but later they did. With this piece he helped paved the way for future artists.
Describe what emotions you feel this painting portrays and explain how the artist used the Principles and Elements of Design to convey these feelings.
Describe your emotions: Some of my emotions are scared. As the wife is laying on the bed, it would be described as a demon or the dead lurking over her as if he/she is watching her lay there. The color scheme he used were darker colors which make the picture to me seem darker. It is almost like there are monsters under the bed too. The way her hands are up on the bed and legs crossed it seems to me almost that she is a prisoner of the night or a prisoner of her own thoughts. The look in her eyes is like a look of terror.
Describe the Principles and Elements used: Some of the principles and elements used in this picture look like oil on a canvas. The colors are dark, and the color choice for the wall background makes it scarier.
Describe your artist’s style: His style was his natural technical skill with brush and canvas. It was also Impressionist. He had bold experimentation with coloring which led directly to the Synthestist style of the modern at while his expression of the inherent meaning of the subjects in his paintings, under the influence of the cloisonnist style, paved the way to Primitivism and the return to the pastoral. He was also an influential exponent of wood engraving and woodcuts as art forms. He was a self-taught amateur artist. He used bold colors, exaggerated body proportions, and stark contrasts. He was known for simplified forms and strong lines. “Art requires philosophy, just as philosophy requires art. Otherwise, what would become of beauty?”- Paul Gauguin References