Pictured is “Christmas Night” by Paul Gauguin.

By Darla McCammon

Paul Gauguin was, and remains after death, a controversial artist. His work was largely unappreciated until he died. His biography is fascinating and very long. I encourage you to read it. He and the artist from last week’s article, Henry Bacon, were both influenced by Brittany and visits to Pont-Aven. But each took away different influences. Bacon was much more traditional while Gauguin evolved into post-impressionism, the Symbolist art movement, and primitive art that developed with his moves to French Polynesia and later Tahiti and the South Seas.

The painting we chose this week is titled “Christmas Night”, or the blessing of the oxen, painted in 1902. We are fortunate to live near the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfield’s. Why? You can find this painting in person. It is one of their many wise purchases. Gauguin’s work, difficult to sell during his life, has been auctioned since his death for as much as $40 million.

Although he was in Tahiti when he painted this canvas, it is out of his memories that he created the work. It is of wintertime in Brittany and has portions of Pont-Aven depicted while the women hail from another small village from his former life. His imagination was vivid and we can now enjoy his interpretation of that moment when the oxen approached that glorious event.

Gauguin’s work is attributed to have influenced both Matisse, whose Christmas-themed painting we discussed two weeks ago, and Pablo Picasso.

Gauguin was born on June 7, 1848. His family life was chaotic and many unusual members were part of his heritage. His father was a daring journalist and his mother came from a family steeped in socialist movements that caused much turmoil. Gauguin’s parents were in the news again when his father assaulted his mother. His father, Andre, was sentenced to prison for attempted murder. Spanish aristocracy and illegitimate children added to the unconventional lifestyle to which Gauguin was consistently exposed. Like I said, you will find his biography fascinating.

Regardless, there was genius in his work. Was it because of this chaotic family, or was it in spite of his exposure to abnormal behavior? He obviously had some sentiments toward this holiday season for him to paint this unusual scene that included his recognition that it would be a blessing for those approaching that stable.

I hope you and yours have a very wonderful and blessed Christmas.

Upcoming and Current Events

Please contact Darla at (574) 527-4044 or at [email protected] if you have an event to mention.

• Through Dec. 28, photography by Florida artist Darlene Romano is on display at Warsaw City Hall Gallery, located at 102 S. Buffalo St. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Online views of more work by this artist can be found at www.darleneromano.com.
• The Gallery at Rua will be on display through Jan. 12, 2019, at 108 E. Market St., featuring Nate and Jeanie Skages with a “Resurrexi-Making Medieval Modern” exhibit.
• A Mary Alice Estep exhibit will go up early on Jan. 4, 2019, through March. Please contact Darla if you have paintings by this artist we can share with our community.