The artwork “Bonjour, Monsieur Gauguin” by Paul Gauguin was created in 1889 in France. This piece is rendered in oil on canvas and is a significant work within the Post-Impressionism movement. The painting measures 92.5 by 74 cm and falls within the genre painting category, which typically depicts scenes of everyday life.
In the artwork, there is a striking juxtaposition of warm and cool colors, with prominent blues and yellows dividing the canvas. The scene portrays two figures in a rural setting, where a foreboding sky looms above a tranquil countryside. The two individuals—a man in a large brown coat and a beret, and a woman in a blue dress—are depicted in a moment of greeting or interaction, separated by a rustic wooden stile. In the background, there is a suggestion of agricultural land, indicated by the presence of a white house; this rural architecture, along with bare trees and a fence, adds a sense of place and season.
Gauguin’s signature, located at the lower right of the artwork, accompanies the distinctively bold brushwork and the application of flat areas of color, which are characteristic of his Post-Impressionist style. The thick impasto texture and the use of perspective highlight the figure in the foreground, creating a sense of depth in the composition. The subject matter reflects Gauguin’s exploration of daily life and his penchant for capturing moments that convey a narrative, inviting the viewer to ponder the interaction between the characters.
