1889
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Volpini Suite: Dramas of the Sea (Les Drames de la Mer) is a 1889 by Paul Gauguin, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows a dark, stormy scene with two shadowy figures in the foreground. The figures look tense, one holding what might be a lantern or tool. Behind them, a shipwreck plays out on a rough sea, with waves crashing and debris scattered. The whole scene is in black, white, and muted yellow tones, giving it a dramatic, almost ghostly feel. The title *Dramas of the Sea* hints at stories of struggle and survival at play. The artist’s signature reads *Gauguin*, but the style leans rougher than typical Impressionist brushwork—more like a woodcut or etching. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow for drama.
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.
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