← Paul Gauguin

Two Women (1901 or 1902)

Original title: Two Women

Artist

Paul Gauguin

Date

1901 or 1902

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

29 x 36 1/4 in. (73.7 x 92.1 cm)

Credit line

The Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Collection, Gift of Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, 1997, Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002

kurzbeschreibung

Paul Gauguin painted this oil on canvas around 1901 or 1902. It features two women in traditional dress within a rural setting. The work belongs to the period Gauguin spent in French Polynesia.

Description

On the left stands a woman in a blue dress patterned with flowers, her dark hair long. To the right, another woman wears an orange dress with a white collar; her hair is brown. Both face the viewer directly. Trees, grass, and a building form the backdrop. Bright natural light makes the colors appear vivid.

Context

From 1901, Gauguin lived on Hiva Oa, where he died in 1903. He painted this picture during that late phase of his career. It is part of a group of works that take life and people in Polynesia as their subject.

Impact

The frontal arrangement and the women's direct gaze create a sense of closeness. Luminous colors and a calm layout give way to a quiet, contemplative mood.

Technique

Oil paint on canvas. The method reflects Post-Impressionism: bold areas of color, simplified forms. Visible brushstrokes mark the lively surface.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)