For the very time in the British capital, the famous painter and sculptor, Paul Gauguin, is exposed in the National Gallery. For the art enthusiastic, Alexis Kuperfis, this exhibition is a real must-see. Indeed, this exhibition is completely dedicated to the numerous portraits made by the artist, that also have become his trademark. Born in 1848, Paul Gauguin is one of the French painter the most known all around the world. Focus on the main characteristics of this exhibition.
Who is Paul Gauguin?
Born in the middle of the 19th century and died in 1903, Paul Gauguin is considered as one of the major French painters of his time. He is still a renowned painter and sculptor today, because he presented a vision of art in a very singular way. Known for his paintings related to French Polynesia, the artist used portraiture as a means of expressing his vision of art. Inspired by his stays in Brittany and mainly in Polynesia from the mid-1880s to the end of his life, he was fascinated by cultures that seemed close to nature and that did not correspond at all to the growing modernity of his time.
The importance of portraits in his work
Although Gauguin was well acquainted with the Western portrait tradition, he had little interest in the social status, personality or families of his models. Even if it was one of the main reasons for painting portraits at that time. The selection of self-portraits exhibited at the National Gallery defines the way in which Gauguin was able to create a whole range of portraits, including through his own image. With his use of intense colours and his interest in non-Western subjects, his approach had a significant influence on artists of the late 19th and 20th centuries.
How can you see this exhibition?
The exhibition includes some fifty works from the mid-1880s to the end of his life in 1903, from public and private collections around the world. From paintings and sketches to ceramic and wooden sculptures, the seven exhibition rooms make it possible to analyse how Gauguin has interpreted the model over time, often in different forms. The exhibition is open from October 7, 2019 until January 26, 2020 at the National Gallery.
