Claire Guitton Book order

The first in-depth investigation of Gauguin's portraits, revealing how the artist expanded the possibilities of the genre in new and exciting ways Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) broke with accepted conventions and challenged audiences to expand their understanding of visual expression. Nowhere is this phenomenon more evident than in his portraits, a genre he remained engaged with throughout all phases of his career. Bringing together more than 60 of Gauguin's portraits in a wide variety of media that includes painting, works on paper, and sculpture, this handsomely illustrated volume is the first focused investigation of the multifaceted ways the artist approached the subject. Essays by a group of international experts consider how the artist's conception of portraiture evolved as he moved between Brittany and Polynesia. They also examine how Gauguin infused his work with symbolic meaning by taking on different roles like the Christ figure and the savage in his self-portraits and by placing his models in suggestive settings with alluring attributes. This welcome addition to the scholarship on one of the 19th century's most innovative and controversial artists reveals fascinating insights into the crucial role that portraiture played in Gauguin's overall artistic practice.

Japanese art significantly influenced the development of modern art in Europe, captivating renowned masters like Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent Van Gogh. This fascination, known as Japonisme, persisted into the twentieth century with artists such as Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Museum Folkwang is hosting its first major exhibition in over twenty-five years, dedicated to this intriguing chapter of French art from 1860 to 1910, highlighting the peak of the Japanese art craze in France. The exhibition showcases various artistic dialogues with Japan, featuring major works from prominent artists like Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Monet, alongside an extensive collection of Japanese color woodcut prints by Utagawa Hiroshige, Katsushika Hokusai, and Kitagawa Utamaro. Additionally, Japanese artifacts are displayed alongside works by French artists such as Félix Bracquemond, Jean Carriès, and Émile Gallé, fostering an enriching dialogue. The exhibition is complemented by a comprehensively illustrated catalogue, including essays from established and emerging scholars, which illuminate the key aspects of this formative period and the creative exploration of Japan by artists in France. The exhibition runs from 27 September 2014 to 18 January 2015 at Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany.