Gauguin Par lui-même (Gauguin by Himself)The child's portrait is drawn on the back of the artwork
Paul Gauguin: Painter, Sculptor, and Printmaker (1848–1903)Paul Gauguin was born in Paris but spent his childhood in Lima, Peru. From an early age, he developed an interest in art and painting and initially devoted his leisure time to painting. Gauguin began painting in the Impressionist style but soon became interested in various artistic styles and movements. He was drawn to contemporary and Neo-Impressionism and was one of the buyers of Impressionist works. In 1874, he met Camille Pissarro, the founder of the Impressionist movement, and learned painting techniques under his guidance. The Impressionists and his friendship with Pissarro encouraged him further towards painting.Gauguin was among the first European artists attracted to ancient Eastern art and Pre-Columbian art. Influenced by Japanese prints and medieval European stained-glass, he used bold black outlines to create harmonious patterns. The influence of Impressionists, especially Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Camille Pissarro, is clearly evident in his paintings. His works from around 1878 to 1882 were largely influenced by Impressionism.The relationship and friendship between Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh, was one of the remarkable events in the lives of these two artists. Edgar Degas was also Gauguin's closest friend and another significant influence in his life. Gauguin admired Degas and his paintings and was influenced by his style in figure design and use of color. Some of Gauguin's works, boldly using pure colors under Degas’s influence, became landmark pieces. In these paintings, Gauguin treats the figure not as a main element but as a means to express emotions.Prepared by the Documentation Unit of Niavaran Cultural Historic Complex by Karim SabbaghiCompiled by Maryam Sharifi, Head of Jahannama MuseumThanks to: Hengameh Karimi, Curator of Jahannama Museum and Sahebgharanieh Palace Museum, and Mehdi Kolyaei, Head of Conservation and Restoration Unit