Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin

June 7, 1848

Vincent van Gogh Painting Sunflowers (c) Paul Gauguin
Vincent van Gogh Painting Sunflowers (c) Paul Gauguin

 

Paul Gauguin was a post-Impressionist painter known for his bold, colorful and design-oriented paintings.

Gauguin lived with his friend and fellow painter Vincent van Gogh for nine weeks in 1988. He will forever be associated with van Gogh’s renowned act of self harm, cutting off a portion of his ear after the two had fought.

However, two historians, who have spent years reviewing the evidence, believe that Gauguin, a fencing ace, most likely sliced off the ear with his sword during a fight and the two agreed to hush up the truth.

 

Yellow Christ (c) Paul Gauguin
Yellow Christ (c) Paul Gauguin

According to the Paul Gauguin website, he was also the first artist to systematically use the effects of Primitivism–an art movement of late 19th century characterized by exaggerated body proportions, animal totems, geometric designs and stark contrasts.

 

Mountains in Tahiti (c) Paul Gauguin
Mountains in Tahiti (c) Paul Gauguin

 

(on Vincent Van Gogh)
Oh yes! He loved yellow, did good Vincent… When the two of us were together in Arles, both of us insane, and constantly at war over beautiful colors, I adored red; where could I find a perfect vermilion?                                                  ~Paul Gauguin

 

Visit the online gallery to see my paintings.