Description 1947 French edition. In fair condition, showing wear and tear. Gauguin, edited by Pierre Tisné, presents a richly illustrated and carefully curated exploration of the life and artistic achievement of Paul Gauguin, one of the most influential figures in modern art. The book combines critical essays, biographical insight, and reproductions of major works to trace Gauguin’s development from a self-taught painter in France to a pioneering artist whose bold vision helped shape Post-Impressionism and modernist experimentation. Tisné organizes the volume to guide readers through the stages of Gauguin’s artistic evolution. The book begins with his early life as a stockbroker who abandoned a conventional career to pursue painting, emphasizing the courage and personal upheaval involved in that decision. It examines his relationships with contemporaries such as the Impressionists and his brief but intense collaboration with Vincent van Gogh, highlighting how these encounters influenced his growing dissatisfaction with naturalism. The editor places particular emphasis on Gauguin’s search for artistic and spiritual authenticity. Essays explore his travels to Brittany, Martinique, and ultimately Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands, where he sought inspiration beyond European society. The book analyzes how Gauguin developed a distinctive visual language characterized by flattened perspective, symbolic color, and simplified forms. These stylistic innovations allowed him to move away from direct observation toward expressive and symbolic representation. Through high-quality reproductions, readers can follow the progression of Gauguin’s themes, including mythology, spirituality, and everyday life in Polynesia. Tisné and contributing writers discuss both the beauty and controversy of these works, acknowledging the complex cultural context surrounding Gauguin’s representations of Indigenous subjects while recognizing their lasting artistic impact. The volume also considers Gauguin’s writings and theoretical ideas, showing how he consciously positioned himself as both artist and visionary. Letters and commentary reveal his struggles with poverty, illness, and isolation, underscoring the tension between personal hardship and creative ambition. Accessible yet scholarly, Gauguin serves as both an introduction and a deeper study of the artist’s legacy. Tisné’s editorial approach balances visual appreciation with historical analysis, allowing readers to understand Gauguin not only as a painter of striking images but also as a transformative figure whose experiments opened new possibilities for twentieth-century art.
