The artwork titled “Nirvana, Portrait of Jacob Meyer de Haan” was masterfully created by the artist Paul Gauguin in 1890, within the creative bounds of France. Gauguin employed oil on silk to realize the piece, embracing the Post-Impressionist movement of the time. This allegorical painting stretches across dimensions of 22 x 28.5 cm and is displayed at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT, United States.
The artwork depicts a striking scene with the figure of Jacob Meyer de Haan at the center. De Haan’s visage is rendered with an intense gaze and distinctive, reddened features that command attention. He is seated, with his body oriented towards the viewer, his hand resting thoughtfully on his chin. His posture suggests introspection or contemplation. Behind him, there appears to be a spectral figure with angular features and an enigmatic expression, whose presence adds a layer of allegory and complexity to the work. The scene is incomplete without its background, which displays an ethereal landscape marked by Gauguin’s characteristic use of vivid, bold color and expressive brushwork. Even in this small size, the artwork is imbued with a sense of emotional depth and symbolic resonance that is emblematic of Gauguin’s oeuvre.
