Paul Gauguin

Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin, a French neo-impressionist painter known for his vivid paintings with flat, bold colors and mystical symbols, was born on June 7, 1848. His art revolutionized the art world by breaking away from traditional artistic conventions.

Paul Gauguin spends his early childhood in Lima, Peru.

Due to political tensions in France, the Gauguins sail to Peru. Clovis Gauguin suffers a stroke and dies during the voyage. Aline, Marie, and Paul live in Lima, Peru with Aline's great-uncle for three years.

Aline, Marie, and Paul return to France to live with Paul's grandfather, Guillaume Gauguin, in Orléans. The elder Gauguin wishes to make his only grandchildren his heirs.

Gauguin's family moved to Paris where he attended a pre-naval college, marking a significant transition in his early life.

On December 7, 1865, at the age of 17, Paul Gauguin boards the ship Luzitano as a merchant marine to fulfill his military service obligation. This experience will later influence his artistic career.

In 1868, Paul Gauguin enlists in the navy and serves as a sailor third-class aboard the Jérôme-Napoléon in Cherbourg. This experience will shape his worldview and artistic inspiration.

Paul Gauguin marries Mette-Sophie Gad in a Lutheran church in Paris at the age of 25.

Emil Gauguin, the son of Paul Gauguin and Mette-Sophie Gad, is born in Paris almost nine months after their marriage.

On December 24, 1877, Aline Gauguin is born, becoming the only daughter of Paul Gauguin and his wife Mette.

In 1879, Paul Gauguin's painting was accepted by the prestigious Paris Salon, a significant recognition for the artist.

In 1880, Gauguin made his debut as a professional artist at the Fifth Impressionist exhibition by submitting seven paintings and a marble bust of his wife, Mette. Despite receiving negative reviews and being labeled as a 'second-tier' Impressionist, Gauguin was oddly encouraged by the criticism.

Gauguin displays eight paintings and two sculptures at the Sixth Impressionist exhibition. One of his works, Nude Study (Woman Sewing), receives positive reviews, establishing him as a recognized artist.

After the stock market crashed in 1882, Gauguin decided to pursue a career as a full-time artist. He explored various artistic styles and techniques, heavily influenced by artists like Pissarro and Cézanne.

In January 1883, Paul Gauguin and Camille Pissarro worked together in Pontoise, possibly influencing each other's artistic styles.

In June 1885, Paul Gauguin made the pivotal decision to dedicate himself fully to his career as an artist, marking a significant turning point in his life.

In April 1887, Gauguin sailed to the French Caribbean island of Martinique with the painter Charles Laval, aiming to 'live like a savage'. His works during this time, such as Tropical Vegetation and By the Sea, showcased a departure from Impressionist techniques.

In June 1887, the artist Paul Gauguin relocates to Martinique.

Vincent van Gogh confronted Gauguin with a razor on the evening of December 23, 1888, leading to a series of events that culminated in Vincent cutting off his own ear. This incident marked a significant and tragic moment in the relationship between the two artists.

In 1889, Gauguin organized a renegade exhibition at a café owned by Mr. Volpini during the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. The Volpini exhibition showcased Gauguin's first venture into printmaking, featuring zincographs on yellow paper that symbolized modernity and spirituality.

In April 1891, Paul Gauguin embarked on a journey to Tahiti with the intention of escaping European civilization and seeking inspiration for his art in the primitive idyll of the island. He promised to return a rich man and make a fresh start.

On April 4, 1891, Gauguin embarks on a journey to Tahiti after selling 30 paintings. He arrives on June 28 and begins working on his autobiography Noa Noa, spending the next 12 years in the South Seas and creating some of his most renowned artwork.

Paul Gauguin arrives in Papeete, Tahiti on June 8, after a journey funded by the sale of his paintings. Unfortunately, he is ill with bronchitis upon arrival.

On December 8, Gauguin sends eight of his Tahitian paintings to Copenhagen for an exhibition, which brings him some success and publicity in Scandinavian and German art circles.

In June 1893, Paul Gauguin comes back to France.

In July 1893, Paul Gauguin made the decision to leave Tahiti, never to see his Tahitian wife Teha'amana or her child again. This marked the end of his time in the South Pacific and the beginning of a new chapter in his artistic journey.

In August 1893, Gauguin returned to France from Tahiti, where he continued to paint Tahitian subjects and held an exhibition at the Durand-Ruel gallery in November 1894.

In November of 1893, despite many paintings being considered masterpieces, 33 out of 44 fail to sell, leaving Gauguin in a challenging financial situation.

An exhibition at the Durand-Ruel gallery in November 1894 was a moderate success for Gauguin, where 11 out of 40 paintings were sold at elevated prices.

In 1895, Paul Gauguin embarked on his second journey to Tahiti, facing financial difficulties and relying on friends for a cheap passage. His relationship with his wife deteriorated, and he left Europe for good.

In April 1897, Gauguin received the news that his favorite daughter Aline had died from pneumonia. This added to his challenges as he also had to vacate his house due to its land being sold.

At the end of 1898, Gauguin completed his monumental painting 'Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?', which he considered his masterpiece and final artistic testament. The painting was exhibited in Paris the following year.

In February 1900, Gauguin became the editor of Les Guêpes, a local journal in Tahiti. He continued in this role until he left Tahiti in September 1901, using the paper to criticize the colonial government and officialdom.

On May 27, 1902, the steamer service Croix du Sud was shipwrecked off the Apataki atoll, leaving the island without mail or supplies for three months. Gauguin expressed his frustration by penning an angry letter to Governor Petit, highlighting the challenges faced by the islanders.

In March 27, 1903, Paul Gauguin was fined 500 francs and sentenced to three months' imprisonment for libeling a gendarme in Hiva 'Oa. He immediately filed an appeal and was in the process of raising funds to travel for the appeal when he passed away.

Paul Gauguin, the French painter who sought inspiration in Polynesia to escape modernity and artistic conventions, passed away on May 8, 1903. Despite not achieving great success during his lifetime, his unique style and use of symbols left a lasting impact on the art world.

The 1906 retrospective exhibition featured Gauguin's sculpture Oviri, a phallic figure of the Tahitian goddess of life and death intended for Gauguin's grave. This sculpture directly influenced Picasso's interest in sculpture, ceramics, and print-making, leading to his seminal work Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.

The Musée d'Orsay acquired Gauguin's sculpture Oviri in 1987, a work that had been exhibited only once since 1906. This acquisition highlighted the masterpiece status of Oviri and its relevance to Picasso's works leading up to Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.

Ingo F. Walther's book 'Gauguin', published in 2000, offers a comprehensive look at the art and life of Paul Gauguin. The book delves into Gauguin's unique style and artistic contributions.

In 2014, Gauguin's painting 'When Will You Marry' became the world's third most expensive artwork, fetching $210 million at an auction.

The Marquesas 1901–1903 refers to a specific period in the life of Paul Gauguin, a renowned French artist. During this time, Gauguin lived in the Marquesas Islands, where he created some of his most famous artworks.