The artwork titled “Change of Residence” was created by artist Paul Gauguin in 1899. It is a woodcut on Japanese paper and exemplifies the Post-Impressionism movement. As a genre painting, it captures a scene of daily life. The Portland Museum of Art (PMA) in Portland, ME, USA is the current custodian of this piece, allowing guests to view it within their collection.
“Change of Residence” is a striking composition that employs bold forms and flattened perspectives, hallmarks of Gauguin’s innovative style that diverged from the Impressionist’s preoccupation with light and shadow. The woodcut presents a procession with human figures and animals, which depicts a scene of moving or transition, evident from the title. In the foreground, there are three figures walking in a line, dressed in traditional garments, which suggest a cultural context and perhaps an element of narrative. Accompanying the group is a horse, ridden by a figure, which lends a sense of journey or nomadism to the artwork. The background contains abstracted, symbolic elements, and the word “TAHITI” prominently displayed, indicating the locale and possibly the inspiration behind the scene. The monochromatic contrast and stylized forms focus on the essential lines and shapes, creating a powerful visual impact characteristic of Gauguin’s post-impressionistic expression and his fascination with primitivism and the exotic.