“The Agony in the Garden” is an evocative religious painting by the artist Paul Gauguin, created in 1889 during his time in France. The artwork, an oil on canvas, measures 73 by 92 centimeters and is a representation of Cloisonnism, an art movement characterized by bold outlines and fields of flat color. The genre of the painting is religious, depicting a scene of spiritual contemplation and distress. It is part of the collection at the Norton Museum of Art located in Palm Beach, Florida, United States.
In the artwork, the central figure, possibly representing Jesus during his time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, appears deeply absorbed in thought, his expression one of profound sorrow or resignation. The figure’s red hair and the surrounding dark tones contribute to the somber mood. Around him is a landscape marked by stark, simplified forms and a stylized treatment of trees and foliage, typical of Gauguin’s style during his Cloisonnist period. Simplified black outlines separate the colors, enhancing the dramatic and emotional impact of the scene. The figure’s posture, bowed and contemplative, conveys a sense of humility and burden, reflecting the gravity of the religious narrative to which it alludes.
