The artwork titled “Head of a Breton (Marie Louarn)” was created by the artist Paul Gauguin in 1888 in Pont-aven, France. This oil on canvas piece belongs to the Post-Impressionism movement and is a portrait that currently resides within a private collection.
Depicted in the artwork is the head of a woman, presumably Marie Louarn, portrayed with Gauguin’s characteristic use of bold colors and simplified forms. The subject wears a traditional Breton headdress in white and blue, signaling her cultural heritage. Her expression is solemn, possibly reflective, and the painting’s visage showcases Gauguin’s interest in capturing the essence of his subjects beyond mere physical likeness. The background is rendered with a lush and vivid green, suggesting vitality and a connection with the natural world, which complements the sitter’s introspective gaze. This color palette and approach to the human form illustrate the departure from the naturalistic representations of the earlier Impressionist movement, paving the way for the experiments with color and form that would define Post-Impressionism.
