The artwork “Tahitian Mountains” is a captivating landscape painting by Paul Gauguin, created in 1893. Employing oil on canvas as his medium, Gauguin’s work measures 73 x 93 cm and is a quintessential example of the Cloisonnism art movement. Originating from French Polynesia, this masterpiece is renowned for its vibrant and exuberant portrayal of the Tahitian terrain.
The artwork showcases a rich and colorful landscape under a vast sky. In the foreground, a winding path cuts through an expanse of golden-yellow fields, flanked by a figure wearing a traditional hat, symbolizing the human presence within this lush scenery. This path leads the eye towards the midground, where various trees and foliage in shades of green, orange, and crimson add depth and contrast. Dominating the background, Gauguin depicts a mountain with reddish hues, rising majestically under a sky punctuated by soft, billowing clouds. The color palette is bold, with the use of unmodulated colors and stark outlines typical of the Cloisonnism style, which favors flat areas of color and bold contours. The overall effect is a vibrant and rhythmic composition that conveys the exotic beauty and serene atmosphere of the Tahitian landscape.
