The artwork titled “Blue Trees” by Paul Gauguin was created in 1888 and epitomizes the Cloisonnism art movement. Painted using oil on canvas, this landscape piece measures 92 by 73 centimeters and is presently housed in The Ordrupgaard Collection, Copenhagen. The artist produced this oeuvre in Paris, France.
“Blue Trees” is a distinctive work of art that exhibits a stylized representation of a landscape suffused with rich, vivid hues and bold outlines that are characteristic of Gauguin’s approach during this period. The foreground displays an expanse of glowing yellow ground contrasted sharply with the vertical blue striations of the trees, which suggest a rhythmic yet arresting quality to the scenery. The background subtly transitions to warmer tones, with a sunset sky rendered in streaks of yellow and flecks of red, evoking a serene yet poignant atmosphere. The presence of a figure in the mid-ground provides a human element, offering a touch of narrative and scale within this vibrant natural setting. The artwork, devoid of the nuances of light and shadow typically found in traditional landscapes, showcases Gauguin’s avant-garde tendencies, prioritizing color, pattern, and line over realistic depiction.