The artwork titled “Still Life with Mangoes” was created by the artist Paul Gauguin circa 1893 during his time in French Polynesia. It is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 30.4 x 47.4 cm, and is currently held in a private collection. This piece exemplifies the Cloisonnism art movement, a style known for bold outlines and flat areas of color, and it falls under the still life genre.
The artwork presents a vibrant composition of mangoes arranged on a plate and surrounded by additional tropical fruits and flowers. The palette is rich, dominated by warm hues of yellow, red, and brown, contrasted with the distinct blues of the plate and bowl. The forms of the mangoes and flowers are simplified and outlined in a manner reminiscent of the cloisonné technique which inspired Gauguin’s Cloisonnism. The painting’s background is suffused with a golden yellow tone, creating an atmosphere of tropical warmth. Gauguin’s brushwork imbues the scene with texture and movement, while the juxtaposition of colors adds depth and visual interest to the composition. The depiction of commonplace objects elevated through intense color and stylization is a testament to Gauguin’s ability to transform a simple subject into a deeper exploration of color and form.
