Artwork

Locusts and Ants: A Memory of Martinique (Les cigales et les fourmis: Souvenir de la Martinique)

Locusts and Ants: A Memory of Martinique (Les cigales et les fourmis: Souvenir de la Martinique) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Locusts and Ants: A Memory of Martinique is a 1889 lithograph by Paul Gauguin, created on zinc and printed on imitation Japan paper.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a group of people in a landscape, with a woman in a long dress and headscarf prominent in the foreground. The scene is set against a hilly background with trees and a cloudy sky, and is rendered in dark, muted tones.

Technique & Style

Gauguin's use of lithography is evident in the rough, textured style of the work. The print reflects his Synthetist approach, emphasizing bold forms and symbolic content over naturalistic detail.

Context

The work is part of Gauguin's exploration of themes tied to his experiences in Martinique, integrating memory and local imagery into his art.

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

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.