Artwork
Two Figures and a Bench; Three Studies of Men's Heads and One of a Hand [recto]
![Two Figures and a Bench; Three Studies of Men's Heads and One of a Hand [recto], by Paul Gauguin, ink, 1886](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--two-figures-and-a-bench-three-studies-of-men-s-heads-and-one--b308c9e6d9f9cfa9-w1024.webp)
Two Figures and a Bench; Three Studies of Men's Heads and One of a Hand [recto] is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1886 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:notations overall
About this work
Overview
This 1886 drawing by Paul Gauguin combines disparate sketches on a single sheet of wove paper, executed in graphite, crayon, and pen and brown ink.
Subject & Meaning
The work features a diverse array of subjects, including two figures and a bench, three men's heads, and a hand, alongside a handwritten notation referencing 'rue S'Catherine Bord', possibly a location significant to the artist.
Technique & Style
Gauguin's use of mixed media and loose, gestural lines reflects his experimental approach to art, characteristic of Post-Impressionism and his distinct Synthetist style, which prioritized expressive and symbolic content.
History & Provenance
Created in 1886, this drawing exemplifies Gauguin's early exploration of innovative techniques that would later establish him as a pivotal figure in late 19th-century art.
![Four Heads and Two Figures [verso]](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--four-heads-and-two-figures-verso--c2dab012b6be4f36-w320.webp)
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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.
- Four Heads and Two Figures [verso]
![Eye and Part of Face; A Breton Woman and Two Men [recto], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--eye-and-part-of-face-a-breton-woman-and-two-men-recto--81c9125f35b9b9e6-w320.webp)
Eye and Part of Face; A Breton Woman and Two Men [recto]![Soldiers; Four Soldiers and a Seated Figure [verso], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--soldiers-four-soldiers-and-a-seated-figure-verso--03eb26713f1552e4-w320.webp)
Soldiers; Four Soldiers and a Seated Figure [verso]![Group of Human Forms; A Man Seated [recto], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--group-of-human-forms-a-man-seated-recto--4584f2f2117fc923-w320.webp)
Group of Human Forms; A Man Seated [recto]![Boy's Face; Two Sheep [verso], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--boy-s-face-two-sheep-verso--dc41a7e795977a82-w320.webp)
Boy's Face; Two Sheep [verso]![Five Studies of Soldiers and a Woman's Face; Two Figures [recto], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--five-studies-of-soldiers-and-a-woman-s-face-two-figures-rect--9d09632e7e517067-w320.webp)
Five Studies of Soldiers and a Woman's Face; Two Figures [recto]![A Man Leaning on a Wall with Five Other Studies; Two Bearded Men Wearing Hats, and Five Other Studies [recto], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--a-man-leaning-on-a-wall-with-five-other-studies-two-bearded--2df262058c2bfe48-w320.webp)
A Man Leaning on a Wall with Five Other Studies; Two Bearded Men Wearing Hats, and Five Other Studies [recto]