A thorough explanation of Gauguin's "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?"
1)
"Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?" With its incredibly philosophical title, this work is a masterpiece painted by Paul Gauguin between 1897 and 1898.
It is a significant work from Gauguin's later years and is considered the culmination of his life and philosophy.
This article will explain the work's background, composition, philosophical themes, and significance in modern times.
2)
What is "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?:
"Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?" is a painting created by Paul Gauguin between 1897 and 1898. Painted on a vast canvas 139 cm high and 375 cm wide, the work is currently in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in the United States.
The work's title, "D'où Venons Nous / Que Sommes Nous / Où Allons Nous," is inscribed in French in the upper right-hand corner, directly on the canvas. It is also signed "P. Gauguin 1897," and the year of production is given.
3)
Perhaps it has a similar meaning to Gauguin's will.:
It is said that this painting was painted as a will in the last chapter of his life.
The reason it is considered a "will" is that Gauguin himself attempted suicide after painting it. It is said that he painted this painting as his 'last work' due to a combination of personal sufferings such as his hopeless health, financial difficulties and the death of his daughter.
Painted under such extreme conditions, this work is generally static and eerie. The expressions of the people depicted are sad, but simultaneously, you can feel the spirit.
4)
Background to the creation of "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?:
From here, I will introduce the background of why Gauguin created this work.
5)
Gauguin's career as an artist in Paris:
Paul Gauguin was born in Paris in 1848. As a child, he moved to Peru, his mother's home country, but he lost his father and returned to France at six.
As an adult, Gauguin worked as a stockbroker and lived a financially stable life. During this time, he married and had five children. However, in his spare time, he became fascinated with painting and began seriously pursuing a career as a painter in the late 1870s.
6)
In 1882, the Paris stock market crashed, and Gauguin lost his income as a broker. During this period, he decided to live as a painter and moved with his family to Denmark.
However, his career as a painter there did not go as he had hoped, and while his wife Mette supported the family, Gauguin began to distance himself from them.
7)
He gradually returned to France with his son Courville to concentrate on his work as a painter. During this time, he moved to Pont-Aven in Brittany, where the cost of living was low, and created works based on rural landscapes and people. There, he developed his style of painting, known as 'Synthetism'.
8)
Shocked by his stay in Tahiti:
In 1891, Gauguin travelled to Tahiti, driven by his resentment of industrialised Western civilisation and longing for a primitive life. Life in Tahiti was idealised for him as a spiritual paradise and a place to escape from European customs and artificial culture.
9)
However, life in Tahiti was not without its difficulties. The cost of living was high, and Gauguin's health deteriorated, suffering from syphilis and skin diseases.
Also, due to the influence of France, which had colonial control over Tahiti, he witnessed a reality different from the image of "pure paradise" that he had dreamed of. Nevertheless, he produced many works in this country and continued to paint the people and landscapes of Tahiti.
10)
Meanwhile, during his second stay in Tahiti in 1897, Gauguin faced difficulties such as the breakdown of his family life, financial problems and deteriorating health. The most shocking of these was the death of his daughter Aline, who was living in Denmark.
This news left a deep sadness in his heart and significantly impacted his work.
11)
Under these circumstances, he completed "Where Do We Come From? ""What are we?" and "Where Are We Going? "
This work expressed his "personal conflict" and "philosophical questions" for Gauguin. After completing this work, he attempted suicide in despair but failed.
12)
Structure of "Where do we come from? What are we? Where Are We Going?
Let's now look at the structure of Where Do We Come From? Who are we? Where Are We Going?
This work is divided into three main sections: the right, the centre, and the left. I will introduce each section separately.
13)
The beginning of life (right side)
On the right, a crouching woman and a sleeping baby symbolise the birth of life. This section corresponds to the question, "Where do we come from?"
14) Adulthood (centre)
In the centre there, people are harvesting apples. Apples are a motif reminiscent of the Christian Garden of Eden, and here, they allude to man's "original sin." This section represents "Who are we?"
15)
Old age and death (left)
On the left side of the canvas, an older woman represents the moment of death. Next to her is a strange white bird, symbolising the powerlessness of words. This section symbolises "Where are we going?"
Gauguin's influence on ChristianSymbolismymbolism
Gauguin received a Catholic education from an early age. This had a strong influence on him.
The question "Where do we come from?" is reflected in the theme of the whole work.
The vivid colours and stylised forms are also characterised by symbolism, visually expressing conceptual themes.
16)
Summary:
Paul Gauguin's "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?" is a culmination of his life and philosophy and a work that questions the meaning of human existence.
Its philosophical depth and importance in art history have not diminished in modern times. This work's universality will cause us to re-examine our way of life.
17)
The questions in "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?" remain relevant to modern society.
"Who are we?" and "Where are we going?" remain ordinary concerns across time and cultures.
A thorough explanation of Gauguin's "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?"
https://irohani.art/study/29863/
