Portrait de lartiste (Self-portrait), ca 1893-94, 4 Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)

Description of Paul Gauguin’s painting "Self-Portrait".

Gauguin created many self-portraits. Each of them embodied the mastery of the Impressionist. He began painting in Tahiti and only finished when he returned to Paris.

True connoisseurs of the painter’s work immediately notice the unusual background against which Gauguin decided to depict himself. On the right in the background you can see another painting by the artist. Gauguin really liked to quote his creations.

The painter gives his own face a special angle. His chin is up, his gaze is directed somewhere in the direction. We see Gauguin half-turned. The colors impress with their purity, the lines astonish with their deliberate sharpness, the coloristic patterned elements attract maximum attention.

We see the artist somewhat detached and somehow wary. This is quite understandable. It was during this period that Gauguin realized that the public did not understand him. He also experienced a collapse in the relationship with the women he loved.

Many contemporaries wondered why Gauguin painted self-portraits so often. Some believed that the artist refused to pose. That’s why he had to portray himself.

Others were sure that Gauguin sought to find himself. He made a lot of attempts. All of them were successful. The artist was able to capture himself in different moments of his life. He also told the audience with the help of paints and skilful brush strokes about what he was worried about.

Gauguin’s self-portrait with hat is impressive. You want to look at it to infinity. Unusual transitions of bright colors create unusually sunny mood. Gauguin as if invites us to think about the most important things in life.

Before us a magnificent creation of the true impressionist. Gauguin conveys his mood and his thoughts. We understand what the artist is thinking about and what alarms him.

Numerous self-portraits of the painter allow us to imagine how Gauguin was in life.