Gauguin by Himself

About this book

Following established precedent Gauguin by himself is concerned to present as comprehensive a picture of the life and work of its subject as possible by means of the artists paintings drawings ceramics sculpture and prints on the one hand and his written words on the other. Paul Gauguin like Vincent van Gogh was unusual among his contemporaries in the importance he attached to the activity of writing. As well as being a lively correspondent at certain moments in his career he found the written word a more biddable medium for self-expression than paint and canvas. Gauguins art and writing combined provide an extraordinary charting of his progress as he learned to master his craft and ventured forth around the colonial globe in pursuit of an elusive dream. Although compilations have been devoted to Gauguin as a writer this is the first publication to attempt a complementary presentation of the two activities. A complete edition of Gauguins correspondence is in the process of being published and a number of facsimiles of his various self-contained books such as his Cahier pour Aline or Noa Noa exist but a comprehensive collection of his other writings and journalism has yet to appear. The current selection has been made with a view to providing insights into Gauguins character and thought as well as a concise and self-explanatory counterpoint to his artistic development; it does not pretend to be exhaustive. It draws most heavily on Gauguins correspondence with family and friends. His writings on more general topics most of which came at the end of his life when he was too ill to paint are introduced in so far as seemed appropriate to elucidate the decisions he had made in life and art and his attitudes to the role of the artist in contemporary society.