Paul Gauguin

Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist whose bold experiments in colour and form synthesised a new, modern style. Though born in Paris, Gauguin spent his early childhood in Peru, an experience that instilled in him a lifelong wanderlust and a fascination with the exotic. He began his career as a stockbroker, only turning to art in his late twenties after being inspired by the Impressionists.

Gauguin soon rejected the Impressionist focus on objective representation, seeking instead to express subjective emotions and spiritual ideas through his art. This led him to develop a distinctive style characterised by flattened forms, simplified lines, and vibrant, non-naturalistic colours. Key works such as *Vision after the Sermon* (1888) exemplify this approach, showcasing his move towards Symbolism and Cloisonnism.

Frustrated with European society, Gauguin sought refuge in French Polynesia, where he created some of his most iconic paintings, including *Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?* (1897-98). These works depict the beauty and mystery of Tahitian life, albeit through a lens that has since been critiqued for its romanticised and colonial gaze. Despite his controversial legacy, Paul Gauguin's innovative use of colour and his exploration of primal themes profoundly influenced the development of modern art.