How did Paul Gauguin live and work? Pictures of the artist, unrecognized by his contemporaries

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

He died in poverty, unappreciated and unrecognized by his contemporaries. The artist who glorified the painting of the post-impressionism era along with Van Gogh and Cezanne is Paul Gauguin, whose paintings today are on the list of the most expensive paintings sold at open auctions and closed auctions. He is often called "damned Gauguin", and he himself considered himself unlucky since childhood and accused God of "injustice and cruelty." Indeed, having read the biography of the great artist, one might think that evil fate hung over him all his life: numerous trials, failures and illnesses accompanied his entire earthly path, preventing him from being creative and not allowing him to feel the taste of glory and recognition.

"Colorful childhood" and youth of the future artist

How did he become an artist, how did he start and what did Gauguin Paul come to? His biography is very interesting and is associated with constant moving. Changing places and the dream of an original life in untouched by civilization lands is anothergreat passion along with an insatiable desire to paint. And this love for the exotic appeared in childhood, when he lived in his mother's homeland in Peru and daily observed the bright colors of national costumes, rich natural vegetation and enjoyed a carefree existence in the tropics.

When little Paul was barely a year old, his father - Republican journalist Clovis Gauguin - after an unsuccessful anti-monarchist coup, decided to move from France to Peru, where his wife was from. However, he died of a heart attack on the way. Paul until the age of seven lived and was brought up in Lima on the estate of his uncle. After that, he and his mother moved to Paris, where the boy quickly learned French and successfully completed school. However, studies did not appeal to him, and all his thoughts were occupied with traveling by sea. Finally, having reached the age of 17, Gauguin, who did not pass the test at the school, sets sail as a pilot's apprentice. For almost six years he has been in continuous travel by sea, going around South America and Europe, sailing in the Mediterranean and northern seas.

Broker or artist?

Having learned about the death of his mother, in 1872 Paul Gauguin returns to Paris and, with the support of a family friend Gustave Arosa, enters the service as a stockbroker. Of course, this is not what Paul always dreamed of. However, for some time he manages to lead a "normal life": he marries a Danish woman, has children. The family lives happily, changing apartments for more and more comfortable ones. At the same time, his workshop occupies a special place in the house. Gauguin, previously onlycollecting paintings, begins to paint himself. His first landscapes appeared already in 1873-1874. At the same time, he met the Impressionists and, starting in 1879, participated in art exhibitions. Now he is taken seriously as an artist. A special role in his creative activity was played by Edgar Degas, to whom Paul Gauguin is very much indebted. The paintings that he paints, Degas buys himself and encourages an Impressionist canvass dealer to do this. Gradually, work as a broker begins to oppress Gauguin, there is very little time left for painting. Therefore, in 1885, Paul decides to quit his job, leaves his family in Denmark and leaves for Paris. For some time he spends in Brittany, where he writes and communicates with symbolist artists. Famous paintings such as "Vision after the Sermon" and "Swineherd. Brittany" (depicts the life of people not spoiled by civilization) were painted here.

Escape from civilization and flowering in the work of Gauguin

Life in France is too expensive for Gauguin, who is eager to devote himself entirely to creativity. In May 1889, having got to an exhibition of oriental culture and inspired by the bright and colorful colors of the exhibited works, Paul decides to leave for Tahiti. It was here that his talent and inspiration reached their highest expression. The most famous and successful canvases were created on the paradise island. Finally, he revealed himself as the artist Paul Gauguin. The paintings painted in the tropics are distinguished by bright and warm colors. Paul depicts swarthy female bodies against a background of lush greenery.("A Tahitian woman with a mango fruit") and golden-pink sand ("Are you jealous?"). In 1892, he wrote as many as 80 canvases! They are distinguished not only by the contrast of colors and the static composition, but also by their bright decorative effect. An example is the painting that Paul Gauguin painted that year - "Tahitian Pastorals" - today it is exhibited in the Hermitage.

A new blow in the life of Gauguin

After a short visit to Paris (due to illness and lack of money), where the artist expected a triumphant failure (the exhibition was harshly criticized) instead of the expected recognition, he finally returned to Oceania. Here he continues to work, not only as an artist, but also as a writer, journalist, and sculptor. However, his work is no longer as cheerful as in previous years. The paintings reflect the anxiety and disappointment that settled in the soul of Gauguin: "Motherhood", "Nevermore". In 1897, he wrote one of his most famous works, "Where did we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?" After finishing it, he made an unsuccessful suicide attempt, tired of illness and general misunderstanding (even on the "paradise earth" he was considered tactless and mediocre).

"Gifts of fate" instead of the desired death

He prayed to God for death, but remained alive. The disease receded, money suddenly appeared (1000 francs were sent from Paris, nevertheless, some of the paintings were sold), and then a person who was able to successfully sell the artist's paintings. His name was Ambroise Vollard,he offered what Paul Gauguin dreamed of all his life. The paintings that he painted, Vollard could buy 25 pieces a year (guaranteed), while undertaking, in turn, to pay the artist a monthly salary (300 francs).

Unhappy ending

It seemed that fate smiled at Paul, but not for long. The disease began to gain momentum again, and there were problems with the authorities (the locals dragged Gauguin - now not only an artist, but also a journalist - into political intrigues). Paul began taking morphine, an opium tincture, to numb the pain. Soon he was found dead (whether this was a natural death or intentional poisoning is unknown).

Paul Gauguin and his contribution to art

Despite the hard life in the constant struggle (with diseases, circumstances, people), Paul Gauguin still did what he saw as his calling - creativity. His paintings have made a huge contribution to contemporary art. Here are some of the most famous paintings that Paul Gauguin gave to the world: "Woman holding a fruit", "Yellow Christ", "Woman with a flower", "Picking fruits", "Still life with parrots", "Evil spirit fun", "Her name was Wairamuati" and others.