'Is this a country that I see, or am I dreaming?'
Born in Paris in 1848, Paul Gaugin was a post-impressionist French painter inspired by his travels to exotic destinations and their lush vegetation. He was a precursor to and latterly leader of the French modern art movement, alongside the likes of Cézanne and Munch.
A stockbroker until the crash of 1882, only his insatiable thirst for escape and discovery suggested that he might ever pursue a career as a professional painter. Son of a Hispano-Peruvian mother and a French communist father, Guagin had a middle class upbringing, although the family departed for Peru as early as 1849, fleeing reprisals from the regime.
After this first adventure abroad Gaugin was left with vivid memories of and a fascination for the vibrant colours of Latin America. From then on, he travelled as often as he could for as long as his finances permitted.
Under the influence of his tutor in France, following his mother's death, he developed a keen eye for painting and 19th century contemporary artists, and later became one of the first collectors of the great impressionist painters, including Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and above all Camille Pissarro, to whom he became a close friend and disciple.
From July 1886 Gaugin took up residence in Brittany at Port-Aven, in what would become a huge artist's colony, sometimes welcoming hundreds of artists, including Meyer de Haan, Sérusier and Filiger. He happily returned there time and time again for many years to develop his style of painting, which gradually evolved from symbolism towards synthetism. Gaugin's work also inspired synthetists such as Mallarmé and literary symbolists.
In 1886, he met Vincent Van Gogh for the first time, and their friendship influenced some of his most beautiful canvases, such as 'The Yellow Christ' and 'The Beautiful Angel', before deteriorating dramatically into the 'catastrophe' of the 23rd of December 1888. On that fateful day the two men, until then great friends, had a violent argument following an artistic clash of judgement. Van Gogh threatened Gaugin with a knife, and the dispute famously culminated in him cutting off his own ear.
In 1981, a successful public sale of his works and a government mission allowed him to flee the 'excessively civilised France' for Tahiti. Gaugin was genuinely fascinated by the Maori people, and was able to outgrow his mentors with his paintings of Tahitian women which earned him great respect from his peers. He was able to capture the beauty of their colourful outfits and their exotic charm in dozens of oil paintings.
On his return to France he wrote 'Noa Noa', a guide to better understanding his Tahitian paintings. In 1895 he left again, this time for Papeete, where he further expanded his palette with the additions of indigo blue and lemon yellow. Struck down by syphilis, he lived out the last of his days on the Marquesas Islands in Hiva Oa.
Gaugin's almost mystical works continue to inspire artists to this day. Following last winter's retrospective at the Grand Palais, Artsper invites you to discover a unique selection of canvases and sculptures inspired by his works. Explore the work of Ken Don, Gérard Ricard, Perico Pastor, and many more…