The artwork titled “Where are you going?” was created by French artist Paul Gauguin in 1892 during his time in French Polynesia. This painting is executed in oil on canvas and is part of the Cloisonnism art movement, characterized by bold and flat forms separated by dark contours. The portrait measures 96 by 69 centimeters and is currently displayed at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, in Stuttgart, Germany.
The artwork presents a scene with a central figure, presumably a Polynesian woman, dressed in a red garment with a white flower adorning her ear, suggesting a connection with the local flora and culture. Her thoughtful gaze is directed out of the frame, which lends a contemplative or enigmatic quality to the portrait. The background features two additional figures who appear to be engaged in a casual squatting posture, contributing to a casual or daily-life scene amid a tropical environment. Bold outlines demarcate the figures from the lush greenery and the simplicity of the houses in the background, creating a juxtaposition of human and natural forms that is a hallmark of the Cloisonnist style.
