Woman with a Mango (1892; French Polynesia) by Paul Gauguin

Woman with a Mango - Paul Gauguin - 1892; French Polynesia

Artwork Information

TitleWoman with a Mango
ArtistPaul Gauguin
Date1892; French Polynesia
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions72.7 x 44.5 cm
Art MovementCloisonnism
Current LocationBaltimore Museum of Art (BMA), Baltimore, MD, US

About Woman with a Mango

The artwork titled “Woman with a Mango” by Paul Gauguin was created in the year 1892 during the artist’s time in French Polynesia. It is an oil on canvas painting that exemplifies the Cloisonnism art movement. The portrait measures 72.7 by 44.5 centimeters and is part of the collection at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

The artwork portrays a woman in a purple dress with white adornments that include intricate flower patterns and decorative elements on the fabric. She holds a mango fruit in her right hand, seemingly offering it while gently cradling her left arm. The background is filled with a rich yellow hue that contrasts with the subject and other elements such as the flower above her left shoulder, adding to the aesthetic of the scene. Notably, the painting exhibits the characteristics of Cloisonnism with bold outlines and flat areas of color which are stark and filled without the traditional Western shading, indicating light and form.

Gauguin’s use of color in the artwork is vibrant and emphasizes the exoticism and simplicity he perceived in the life of the indigenous people of French Polynesia. The figure is depicted with serene poise and grace, attributes that reflect Gauguin’s stylization and romanticization of Tahitian subjects, which was common in his Pacific works. The depiction is not just a portrait of an individual; it is an embodiment of Gauguin’s experiences and artistic exploration during this period of his life.

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