Gauguin was a key figure of the Symbolist movement. His style explored the intrinsic essence of the subject matter of his artworks and cleared the path for subsequent movements like Primitivism.
He enrolled in a military training academy at the age of 14 before heading to Orléans for his last year. Gauguin joined the commercial navy as a pilot’s aide.
Gauguin began painting in his spare time in 1873, at the same time he became a stockbroker. He befriended Camille Pissarro and paid him visits on Sundays to create in his yard.
Gauguin originally struggled to re-enter the Parisian art community, and he spent his first winter back in true poverty, forced to work a succession of demeaning occupations.
Gauguin’s work progressed towards Cloisonnism while influenced by Japonism and traditional folk art. The Yellow Christ (1889) is frequently recognized as a typical Cloisonnist piece.
After visiting Panama, Gauguin spent the summer of 1887 on the island of Martinique. During his visit, Gauguin completed 11 documented works, several of which appear to be inspired by his hut.
His stated intention was to flee European society and “anything unnatural and traditional.” He spent the first three months in Papeete, which was already heavily impacted by Franco and European civilization.
Since discovering a series of finely crafted Marquesan vases and swords in Papeete in his first weeks in Tahiti, Gauguin had nourished his ambition to settle in the Marquesas.
Gauguin was motivated and driven by the raw strength and purity of those other nations’ so-called Primitive Art. He is regarded as a post-Impressionist artist.
Gauguin used a method referred to as peinture à l’essence. He also used glass to test some of his pre-existing works, reproducing an underside picture onto the glass surface using watercolor or gouache.