Paul Gauguin is known as the author of paintings in the direction of Post-Impressionism. His life was no less interesting and unique. Life in Polynesia in childhood, as well as moving to the islands of Tahiti in adulthood, left an imprint on the nature of the subjects of Gauguin. He left behind a unique collection of paintings, many of which became a discovery for Europeans in the form of picturesque stories about the life of island villages.
An example of the above works is the one presented here. These are “Beautiful Days”, written in 1892. The work was one of the eighty that Paul Gauguin wrote during his move to French Polynesia in 1891. The canvas depicts a piece of a rural evening after hours of labor. The pacification and silence are emphasized by rather dark colors, close to the twilight.
I would like to see more clear and deep shadows, but Gauguin avoided such contrasts in any way, it is worth considering his work. For an eyewitness of the very Polynesian way of life, naked bodies are not new. For us, modern philistines, nude in the images of women seems exotic. In fact, this is the exotic: French Polynesia, islands, warmth and tropical landscape. The plot is built on a set of fairly large details. Despite their apparent enlargement, the characters remain in their places, not trying to “fall out” beyond the canvas, which often happens with such a composition.
Paul Gauguin paid attention to the diversity of the texture of his “guests” – these are women, men and children. Someone is talking, someone is eating juicy fruits, others, noticing the artist, begin to pose on purpose. Images of characters are simple in their own decor, and in the mood. They are completely ordinary people with their worries and fatigue. Their life goes on as usual, and Gauguin just showed the evening rural fuss. Tomorrow morning will begin again, and a warm day will be replaced the same evening. This is the perfect time of beautiful days.
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