The search for pure means of expressiveness and plots, dissociated from European mastery and intricacy, is what first of all catches your eye when you meet Gauguin’s “Dream.”
The plot of the picture is very simple and obvious – two Tahitian girls in their tropical home are immersed in a dream. It’s hard to say what they are dreaming about, the author does not leave us any clues – maybe about the future of a peacefully sleeping child, maybe about love or something else about something very personal?
The picture still produces an incredibly strong impression, and at the end of the nineteenth century, when it only appeared and caused bewilderment – in a dynamic age of all possible searches for new techniques and style, various “isms,” a picture suddenly appeared so exotic in the plot and written with almost primitive technique. This is what Gauguin sought!
Admiring the beauty and the direct nature of the islanders, the inhabitants of Tahiti, completely immersed in their way of life and way of life, Gauguin sang this people in their paintings – sincerely and with great love. Looking at these half-naked girls, you can imagine and grin – what a shock they caused in the aristocratic public.
But today, despite the exoticism of “Dreams” it is very difficult not to admit – the women depicted in the picture are truly beautiful, they are delightful of their naturalness, naturalness. Indivisible with nature and tropical life, they are the same as us – the child sleeps, and next to it there is a dog, and how we beauties of the tropics dream about something, having taken thoughtful and relaxed poses.
The presented picture is an excellent example of both the philosophy of the artist and his style – the broad planes of bright colors, simplistic, somewhat angular outlines of forms, appeal to primitive techniques, anything that can express the beauty of unspoiled true children of nature.
The ambitious and exotic “Dream” was never accepted by contemporaries, however, today we can say that Gauguin’s devotional service to his ideals has not been in vain – somewhat schematic, but from this no less “lively” sensual images, dissecting time and space surprise, delight and make you dream with them to this day.
(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)