Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was one of the most formidable artists of the
late nineteenth century, and one whose work was to have a profound
influence on the development of art in the twentieth century. He began
as an Impressionist, but went on to develop a more two-dimensional,
richly-coloured style in his constant search for a 'lost paradise'
untouched by nineteenth-century civilization. Gauguin's romantic and
tragic life story is mirrored in the works in this outstanding
anthology. Included are 48 full-page colour plates, not only of his best
known, beautiful, atmospheric paintings of Tahiti in which Gauguin
attempted to reconstruct the perfect life which he had failed to find in
reality, but also of many powerful works which reflect the artist's
contact with other early modern masters - Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne.
Art historian Lesley Stevenson has written an informative, clear
commentary to accompany each colour plate.