Who painted Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes)?

Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes) was painted by Paul Gauguin in 1889.

Where can I see Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes)?

Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes)?

Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes)?

Museum-quality prints of Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes)

Paul Gauguin , 1889

Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers (Baigneuses Bretonnes) is a print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1954.55.3
Credit line: Dudley P. Allen Fund

About this work

Overview

Created in 1889, the work titled Volpini Suite: Breton Bathers is a zincographic print by Paul Gauguin. Executed during his Parisian period, the image presents a group of nude figures set against a coastal Breton landscape. The composition is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it forms part of the museum’s modern art holdings.

Subject & Meaning

The scene centers on a solitary woman, her torso turned away, arm lifted, suggesting a moment of private activity amid a broader gathering. In the distance, faint outlines of a building and several smaller figures hint at a communal setting, reflecting Gauguin’s interest in portraying everyday life beyond the academic canon, particularly in the culturally distinct region of Brittany.

Technique & Style

Gauguin employed the zincograph process, a printmaking method that allowed for strong, uneven lines and a sketch‑like quality.

Gauguin employed the zincograph process, a printmaking method that allowed for strong, uneven lines and a sketch‑like quality. Thick, dark strokes define the figure’s curvature and shadow, while the background remains lightly rendered. The overall effect is one of immediacy, emphasizing form and gesture over detailed finish, aligning with the Synthetist approach that favored bold contour and simplified color fields.

History & Provenance

The print emerged from a series of experiments Gauguin pursued while in Paris, a period marked by his shift away from Impressionist naturalism toward Symbolist concerns. After changing hands through private collections, the piece entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, where it remains accessible for study and public viewing.

Volpini Suite: Breton Women by a Gate (Bretonnes à la Barrière), Paul Gauguin

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.