The artwork “Faaturuma” is a creation of the artist Paul Gauguin from the year 1891, employing the medium of oil on canvas. The piece measures 94 by 68 centimeters and is a portrait adhering to the Cloisonnism art movement. This artwork is housed at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art located in Kansas City and was created whilst Gauguin was in French Polynesia.
The artwork presents a figure, likely a woman, reclining passively in a wooden chair, enveloped in a vivid pink dress that captures the viewer’s attention with its intense hue and loose, flowing outlines. The subject’s pose and distant gaze convey a thoughtful or melancholic atmosphere, embraced by the intimate scale and the flattened interior space. The skin tones contrast with the bold coloring of her attire, and the weight of her contemplation seems underscored by the dark outlines characteristic of Cloisonnism. Gauguin’s technique of outlining the subject in this way echoes the stained glass aesthetic, which, along with the simplified forms and strong colors, highlights the emotional resonance of the scene rather than its realistic depiction.
In the background of the artwork, a small framed view, resembling a window, showcases a glimpse of an exterior setting, contrasting the interior scene and further invoking a sense of place tied to the Polynesian landscape. The interaction of the bold colors, the stylized treatment of the figure, and the fusion of the subject with her environment are emblematic of Gauguin’s post-impressionist explorations during his time in the tropics.
