Paul Gauguin

The biggest representative of Post-impressionism and partially Symbolism; however, his early works were created in the style of impressionism. He is considered the forerunner and one of the pioneers of the art of modernism (in the broad sense of this term) not only in painting, but also in sculpture and graphics.

Gauguin began painting as an amateur in the 1870s. Soon he actively participated in exhibitions. He became worldly famous only after his demise. And at the end of the 20th century, biographical films about his life were created.

Key ideas:

– P. Gauguin considered it right to refuse from such familiar classical traditions in painting as perspective, chiaroscuro and so on.

– Flat shapes and objects, plants and animals are characterized by a specific smoothness of forms with clearly marked outlines, contours on a monochrome surface. It is about the harmony of the visible and imaginary worlds, when the simplification of the image is allowed in order to achieve semantic accents; there is some decorativeness, often conveyed by unusually shining bright colors.

– Gauguin insisted on the individuality of the views of a particular master on the image, on the freedom of the creative thought and the freedom of the expression of inner emotions.