The artwork titled “What’s New?” was created by the artist Paul Gauguin in 1892 during his time in French Polynesia. This oil on canvas painting exemplifies the Post-Impressionist movement and measures 67 by 92 centimeters. Classified as a genre painting, it currently resides in the Galerie Neue Meister in Dresden, Germany.
In the artwork, two Tahitian women are depicted, one reclining and another sitting beside her, engaging in what appears to be a subdued conversation. The reclining figure gently rests on a vividly colored cushion with a flower design that contrasts against the mustard hue of the sand beneath her. To her side, a collection of simple objects—a white flower, and two green round fruits—enhances the tranquil mood of the scene. The sitting woman, with her legs folded to the side, wears a striped cloth draped across her upper body and stares intently toward her companion, suggesting a moment of thoughtful interaction. Gauguin’s signature use of bold, flat colors and the lack of perspective indicative of European painting is evident, as is his distinctive artistic style that blends an intense palette with sculpturally rendered figures. The simplified forms and the rich, harmonious colors evoke a sense of serenity and convey the idyllic and exotic atmosphere that fascinated Gauguin during his time in Polynesia.
