Celebrating Paul Gauguin, who brought Tahiti to life with his works

Paul Gauguin, a Post-Impressionist French painter, was born in 1848 and became fascinated with the art world after the stock market crash. Despite facing family clashes, he left his family and settled in Denmark before returning to Paris to pursue the arts, meeting artists like Camille Pissarro and Paul Cezanne.

Paul Gauguin, a French painter, was a key figure in the Symbolist movement and was known for his experimental use of colour and Synthetist style. He had a close friendship with Vincent van Gogh, but never met again. Gauguin's work influenced the French avant-garde and modern artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. 

Paul Gauguin's art is known for its vibrant colors, simplified forms, and departure from realistic depictions. His fascination with exotic landscapes and cultures is evident in his works like "Tahitian Women on the Beach." Gauguin's innovative use of color and form influenced later art movements like Fauvism and Expressionism. His experimental phase involved thick brushstrokes, textured surfaces, and unconventional materials like cloisonné-like borders.

One of Paul Gauguin art works, ‘The Vision After the Sermon’ (1888), is a bright example of his unique style. In the painting, he employed bold, non-naturalistic colours (vivid reds and greens), which convey an almost spiritual and dreamlike atmosphere. The perspective is flattened and is reminiscent of medieval stained glass.

Paul Gauguin's 1889 post-impressionist self-portrait, 'Self Portrait with Halo and Snake', features a sombre expression with a halo, apples, and a snake, possibly symbolizing his desire for union with nature and the 'Garden of Eden', with muted colors evoking the psyche.