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Geese; Girls in Bonnets, Geese [recto]

Paul Gauguin

1886

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Animal

Dominant colour

Geese; Girls in Bonnets, Geese [recto] is a 1886 graphite by Paul Gauguin, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Paul Gauguin
When & what style?: 1886 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows quick, loose drawings of geese in different poses—some walking, some flying, some resting. The lines are simple and fast, like doodles. On the right page, there are also two figures wearing bonnets, drawn in the same rough style. The artist seems to be practicing how to capture movement and shapes with minimal detail. The paper is plain, and the graphite lines vary in darkness, giving a sense of light and form without much shading. Next, check out Paul Gauguin to see how he developed his sketching style into bold paintings.

About the artist

Artist

Paul Gauguin

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.

See the richer artist page