Description
Paul Gauguin's painting "Self-Portrait - 1890" is one of the most iconic works of Post-Impressionism, a movement with which the artist is strongly associated. In this work, Gauguin combines his distinctive style with a personal introspection that reveals both his identity and his artistic evolution.
Gauguin presents his figure in the centre of the canvas, against a backdrop of dark, accentuated tones that lend him an aura of mystery. The composition is remarkably simple, yet powerful. The green and brown background creates a contrast that highlights the luminous colour palette used in his face and clothing. The use of colour is not merely representational; it is emotive and symbolic, characteristics that are the artist's hallmark. The tones he chooses for his skin, a yellowish brown, suggest his connection to the tropics and a departure from his European origins.
Gauguin's facial features are stylized, accentuating his intense, reflective gaze. His eyes, a striking blue, seem to look beyond the viewer, as if exploring the very essence of his being. This penetrating gaze, combined with his serious expression, suggests a man deep in contemplation and searching for meaning, a recurring theme in his work.
His choice of clothing is also significant; Gauguin is shown wearing a brightly coloured shirt, which adds to the complexity of his self-image. This balance between the personal and the cultural is fundamental to his work, as he not only paints his physical self, but also incorporates elements of his artistic and spiritual journey, influenced by his time in Polynesia, which began in 1891. Although this self-portrait was made before that time, one can feel the influences of symbolism and the search for a personal style that will intensify in his later works.
The technique used by Gauguin in this work is also notable. The application of colour is bold and almost autonomous, where each stroke seems to have a life of its own. This focus on the surface of the canvas resonates with the ideas of the Symbolists, who prioritised the expression of feeling over the accurate representation of the physical world. In this sense, Gauguin aligns himself with his contemporaries, such as Vincent van Gogh, but is also distinguished by his particular relationship with form, colour and the implicit narrative that surrounds his portraits.
"Self-Portrait - 1890" is ultimately a dialogue between the artist and his own perception. In this work one finds not only the painter's gaze on the world, but also his desire to explore the cultural and personal legacies that define him. Although less known than Gauguin's other works, this painting is an example of his tireless search for inner truth and beauty, themes that would continue to resonate in his work throughout the years, especially in his best-known period in Tahiti, where he would further explore the idea of the exotic and the primitive as a reflection of his own complexity.
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