The artwork titled “Clovis” is an oil on canvas portrait created by the artist Paul Gauguin in the year 1886, hailing from France. This painting is an exemplar of the Post-Impressionist movement, with dimensions measuring 56.6 by 40.8 centimeters. The genre of the painting is portrait, and it currently resides within the prestigious collection of the Newark Museum, located in Newark, New Jersey, United States.
The artwork depicts the bust of a young boy clad in a dark blue garment, with his gaze directed slightly to the viewer’s left, giving the impression of contemplative introspection or distraction. The boy’s cheeks exhibit a rosy tint, providing a sense of life and youth within the composition. The boy is holding an open book in his hands, with one page partially turned, suggesting an interrupted moment of reading. The expressiveness of the brushwork is evident in the depiction of the boy’s hair and the textural contrasts on his face and clothing.
In the background to the right of the boy, there is a suggestion of vibrantly colored flowers, possibly arranged in a vase. The flowers introduce a contrast with the subdued tones of the boy’s attire and the neutral background, which consists of a harmonious blend of muted tones. Gauguin’s technique, characteristic of Post-Impressionism, employs bold, saturated color and emphasizes painterly qualities over the representation of naturalism. Through these stylistic choices, Gauguin imbues the portrait with both a sense of psychological depth and a distinctive aesthetic that departs from the more realistic styles of the time.
