The artwork titled “Self-portrait at Lezaven” is a creation by Paul Gauguin, dating back to the year 1888, during a period where Gauguin resided in France. This piece is a self-portrait, delineated in oil on canvas, which exemplifies the Post-Impressionist movement, an era marked by a departure from the impressionistic concern with the naturalistic depiction of light and color.
In the artwork, Gauguin portrays himself in a candid stance, with his head slightly tilted to one side, giving the spectator a direct gaze that seems introspective yet confrontational. The artist has rendered his facial features with a robust contour, emphasizing his determined jawline and the depth of his eyes. Gauguin’s palette is composed of earthy tones, with the skin rendered in shades of ochre and hints of green, suggesting a kind of raw, unembellished honesty about his physical appearance.
The background of the portrait exhibits a dividable difference in textures and colors, with the left side displaying a vertical pattern that could represent a wall or a partition, contrasting with the solid greenish hue on the right. His attire consists of a warm, mustard-colored garment overlaid by a brown coat, reinforcing the feeling of depth and volume in the portrait.
Overall, the brushwork is vigorous and expressive, indicative of the Post-Impressionistic style that sought to convey the artist’s emotional response to the subject rather than a strict naturalistic representation. The artwork stands as a testament to Gauguin’s individualistic approach to art, capturing not only his physical likeness but a glimpse into his psyche and the ethos of an artistic movement that shaped the direction of modern art.
