Three Tahitian Women
Original title: Three Tahitian Women
kurzbeschreibung
Paul Gauguin's "Three Tahitian Women" from 1896 stands apart from many of his Tahitian scenes because it focuses on a quiet moment between the figures. Painted in oil on wood, the picture measures 24.4 x 43.2 cm. Traditional South Seas clothing meets a contemplative mood.
Description
Three women stand in a natural setting. The one on the left is only partly dressed, while the other two wear traditional skirts. Their gazes go to the left, and their posture remains calm and withdrawn. Trees and a river suggest the rural surroundings. Strong colors and warm light shape the bodies.
Context
Gauguin painted this picture during his second stay in Tahiti (1895–1901), when he was searching for a way of life he imagined as original and processing impressions of Polynesian culture. Created in 1896, it fell in a phase of financial and health difficulties, during which he nevertheless continued to work. The motif of the Tahitian woman takes on a central role in his late work.
Impact
A quiet, almost meditative mood defines the picture. Warm colors and the calm arrangement create an idyllic atmosphere. At the same time, the simplified forms and flat layout give the work something timeless and symbolic.
Technique
Oil paint on a wood panel produces a smooth surface. The colors are strong and partly applied unmixed, as is typical of Gauguin's synthetic style. The pictorial structure remains flat and emphasizes the outlines of figures and landscape.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)