Artwork
Brittany Landscape
Brittany Landscape is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
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- Inscribed:lower left: P. Gauguin 88
About this work
Technique & Style
Its formal qualities include a flattened spatial depth, bold outlines, and a restrained palette that emphasizes the decorative quality of the composition.
Brittany Landscape is an oil painting on canvas measuring 71.1 × 89.5 cm, created by Paul Gauguin in 1888. The work belongs to the landscape genre and depicts trees in the Breton countryside. It is executed in oil paint, a medium the artist used to achieve broad, flat areas of color and simplified forms characteristic of his synthetist style.
The support is a stretched canvas, and the painting has been part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., since a 1963 bequest. Its formal qualities include a flattened spatial depth, bold outlines, and a restrained palette that emphasizes the decorative quality of the composition.
History & Provenance
Brittany Landscape is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The work entered the museum's holdings in 1963 as a bequest from Chester Dale, who had acquired the painting on June 4, 1926, following its sale from the estate of Claude Émile Schuffenecker via Galerie Joseph Allard in Paris. Prior to Dale's ownership, the painting likely circulated through the German art market, evidenced by an exhibition at the Kunstsalon W. Zimmermann in Munich in 1908 while it was possibly in the possession of Schuffenecker's brother, Amédée.
Overview
Paul Gauguin's "Brittany Landscape," an oil on canvas painting, captures a serene rural scene. Created during a pivotal period in the artist's career, this work exemplifies his evolving artistic approach. It reflects his growing interest in simplifying forms and using color expressively, moving away from Impressionistic techniques toward a more synthetic style that would define his later contributions to modern art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a tranquil pathway in the Breton countryside, bordered by tall, verdant trees that frame a gently curving road. A solitary figure of a woman walks alongside the Aven River, her presence underscoring the quietude of the setting. This portrayal emphasizes the rustic charm and untouched nature of the region, themes that frequently drew Gauguin to Pont-Aven and its surroundings.
Context
Gauguin produced this work while residing in Pont-Aven, a village in Brittany that became a significant artistic hub during the late 19th century. He was drawn to the region's perceived primitivism and its distance from urban modernity, finding inspiration in its traditional culture and unspoiled landscapes. This environment provided a fertile ground for his artistic innovations and his development of a new aesthetic.
Legacy
The bold use of color and simplified forms seen in "Brittany Landscape" foreshadowed the radical developments in Gauguin's later oeuvre. His innovative approach to color and composition, characterized by strong outlines and non-naturalistic hues, played a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of Post-Impressionism. These stylistic choices profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists, contributing to the broader modernist movement.
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Artist
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (; French:; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements.
