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Trees; Sketch of Breton Boy [verso]

Paul Gauguin

1886

crayon

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Trees; Sketch of Breton Boy [verso] is a 1886 crayon 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 painting features two sketches on a single sheet of paper. The left sketch depicts a tree with a thick trunk and branches that stretch upwards, while the right sketch shows a boy with a hat and a collared shirt. The sketches are rendered in a simple, expressive style, with bold lines and minimal shading. The artist's use of crayon on wove paper gives the sketches a rough, textured quality, and the counterproof technique adds a sense of depth and dimensionality. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, as if the artist is capturing a moment of stillness in the natural world. For more on the artist's use of bold lines and expressive style, look up Gauguin, Paul.

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