The artwork “Young Christian Girl” by Paul Gauguin was created in 1894 in Paris, France. The medium of this piece is oil on canvas and it measures 65.2 cm by 46.7 cm. Gauguin’s work is associated with the art movement known as Cloisonnism and the genre of the artwork is portrait. This particular painting is housed at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States.
The artwork presents a figure of a young girl in profile view, clasped in prayer with downcast eyes. The striking use of color characteristic of Cloisonnism is apparent, with bold, flat areas of color delineated by dark contours, reminiscent of the stained glass window technique that influenced the movement. The girl’s golden hair and yellow dress dominate the composition, highlighting her youthful innocence and spirituality. The background complements the figure with patches of vivid blue, green, and red, enhancing the stylized and symbolic nature of Gauguin’s work. Her posture is one of devotion and introspection, which evokes a sense of tranquility and religious reflection.
