Artwork
The Big Tree (Te raau rahi)
The Big Tree (Te raau rahi) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
The Big Tree (Te raau rahi) is an 1896 oil painting by Paul Gauguin, created during his residency in Tahiti. It captures a tropical landscape centered around a prominent Barringtonia asiatica tree, with a village in the background.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on a large Barringtonia asiatica, a native Tahitian tree, set against a lively village scene. The composition contrasts the natural, vibrant tree with the quieter human settlement.
Technique & Style
Executed in Gauguin's Post-Impressionist style, the work features bold, expressive colors and loose, energetic brushstrokes, simplifying forms to emphasize emotional and visual intensity.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1896, the work is now part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.
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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.
