The artwork titled “The Month of Maria” by Paul Gauguin was created in the year 1899 in Punaauia, French Polynesia. Rendered in oil on canvas, this painting exemplifies the Cloisonnism style and measures 97 by 73 centimeters. It is categorized as a portrait and currently resides in the Hermitage Museum located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork portrays a solitary figure standing in a lush, tropical setting. The central subject, a woman, dominates the composition and is adorned with a draped garment that gently wraps around her form, exposing one shoulder. She is holding what appears to be a bunch of flowers in her left hand, hinting at a connection to the natural world around her. The color palette consists of rich yellows, greens, and blues, all set against a backdrop that features simplified forms and contours distinctive of the Cloisonnism movement.
The use of flat areas of color and bold outlines is characteristic of Gauguin’s style during this period. The composition creates a serene and contemplative mood, with the woman gazes off into the distance, perhaps evoking a sense of introspection or spiritual contemplation. The overall effect of the artwork is one that blends symbolism, naturalism, and the artist’s personal vision of the idyllic Polynesian life and landscape.
