Comparative Study – Paul Gauguin 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903

The Yellow Christ (1889)

Oil on Canvas 'The Yellow Christ' is a classic example of his style. It depicts
some traditional Breton women praying at a roadside grotto
but it is not a documentary illustration of the scene; it is an
attempt to portray the spiritual vision that they experience in
their prayer. In this painting Gauguin was inspired by the
naive simplicity of a wooden 17th century crucifix that he saw
in the nearby church at Tremalo and he uses its primitive form
and autumnal yellow color as a key to the work.

He then simplifies his drawing, boldly outlines his shapes and

exaggerates his color to magnify the heightened emotion of
the women's prayerful meditation.

'Tahitian Landscape', 1893 (oil on canvas)

This picture, one of the first he painted in the South Seas, exhibits the artist's
characteristic Post-Impressionist style. In it, Gauguin used sinuous contours
and intense colors to express the joy and serenity inspired by the lush tropical
site.Tahiti would become Gauguin's home for most of the last twelve years of
his life. He once said of his Tahitian paintings that he had been "eager to
suggest a luxurious and untamed nature, a tropical sun that sets aglow
everything around it...the equivalent of the grandeur, depth, and mystery of
Tahiti when it must be expressed in one square meter of canvas."
 A

CONNECTION

Master of the Lyversberg Passion or Master of

the life of the Virgin (UNKNOWN)
"Christ on the Cross with Mary, John and Mary
Magdalene"
Dimensions: 86.4 x 72.9 cm Medium: Oil
Painting on Oak, Creation Date: 1465 - 1470

PAUL GAUGUIN (1848-1903)

'The Yellow Christ', 1889 (oil on canvas) C

B
PAUL GAUGUIN (1848-1903)
'Tahitian Landscape', 1893 (oil on canvas)
 Comparative Study – Paul Gauguin

A C
http://daydreamtourist.com/2013/02/04/mary-magdalene/
Master of the Life of the Virgin, Christ on the Cross with Mary, John and
Mary Magdalene, c. 1465/1470. Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne,
Germany
In The Yellow Christ (1889) often cited as a quintessential cloisonnist work, Gauguin reduced the
cross to areas of single colors separated by heavy black outlines and have direct influence from
post renaissance painting. In such works he paid little attention to classical perspective and
boldly eliminated subtle gradations of color — two of the most characteristic principles of post-
Renaissance painting.
 Comparative Study – Direct Influences from his own painting – “Tahitian Landscape”

SUBJECT:
Tahitian Landscape –
SUBJECT: Reflects rural area with
Catholism ancient Celtic warm colours
beliefs, anthropological
study – Breton peoples

INFLUENCES: Artist used technique

known as ‘Cloisonnism’ - medieval
technique for decorative enamel work
Many historians believe that Gauguin
painted his own face as the face of Christ
because he felt that, like Christ, he had
suffered and was still suffering – he
endured the many woes of an artist.

Also, the man running in the

COMPOSITION
background is caught in the act of Typical academic style of
getting away, which represents the composition and Artist
late 19th century desire to "get used one point
away" from the city life and get
back to the "primitive“. perspective. The path
shows very clearly to leads
vanishing in one point
Triangular representations perspective.

Colour Scheme:
(Direct influence from TECHNIQUE: INFLUENCES: In this
Tahitian Landscape Artist used oil on canvas in painting artist used direct
this picture and less outline influences from the
and flat colour approach nature and shows
geographical condition of
INTENTION
the place.
In this painting Gauguin
COMPOSITION expressed in unusual way of
Unique arrangement in this composition, more into depicting the characterization
primitive style. he paid little attention to classical INTENTION
and cultural significance. it is
In this painting artist captured
perspective an attempt to portray the
natural beauty of Tahitian
spiritual vision that they
TECHNIQUE: landscape . He attempt well in
experience in their prayer. It
the artistic feature s of colour
Artist used oil on canvas in this painting and bold outline with is more connected into social
balance, harmony , mood and
vivid colour scheme . Highly inspired from ‘Cloisonnism’ rom post and spiritual context rather
atmosphere.
–renaissance period. than Religion.

IMAGE ANNOTATION (Similarities and differences)

 Similar arrangement in the Holy Cross
SUBJECT:
SUBJECT: Strong Religious Painting
Catholism Biblical scenes
ancient Celtic represented
beliefs,
anthropological TECHNIQUE:
study – Breton Artist used oil on oak in
peoples this picture and less outline
and flat colour approach
SPACE and BALANCE :
Similarities
Both paintings having
similar annotated diagrams
in the pictorial composition
COMPOSITION
Typical Classical
Landscape Similarities perspective, can easily find
direct similarities of
Colour Scheme: Gaugain’s Yellow christ
Differences (Compare Triangular
(Direct influence from diagrams)
Tahitian Landscape
Typical post renaissance
style INFLUENCES: In this
painting artist used direct
influences from biblical
stories.

Triangular representations

C
INTENTION Master of the Lyversberg Passion or Master of the life of the
In this painting Virgin (UNKNOWN)
Gauguin depicts some "Christ on the Cross with Mary, John and Mary Magdalene"
COMPOSITION traditional Breton
Unique arrangement in this composition, more into Dimensions: 86.4 x 72.9 cm Medium: Oil painting on Oak
women praying at a
primitive style. he paid little attention to classical roadside grotto but it
Creation Date: 1465 - 1470
perspective (Compare Triangular is not a documentary INTENTION
diagrams) illustration of the The wealthy Mary of Magdala (a city along the Sea of
TECHNIQUE: scene; it is an attempt Galilee) was said to be cured of an illness by Jesus and
Artist used oil on canvas in this painting and bold to portray the spiritual became a close follower of his. While the 12 Disciples
outline with vivid colour scheme . Highly inspired vision that they scattered during the crucifiction, it was Mary Magdalene,
from ‘Cloisonnism’ rom post –renaissance period. experience in their Mother Mary and John that stay at the cross.
prayer.
IMAGE ANNOTATION (Similarities and differences)
Resource:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloisonnism
http://daydreamtourist.com/2013/02/04/mary-magdalene/
http://www.artsconnected.org/resource/8518/tahitian-landscape
http://www.intltravelnews.com/images/2006/07/big/pgfg.jpg
http://www.aaronartprints.org/gauguin-theyellowchrist.php
http://www.gluckliche-eme.com/miscgermanartists.htm
http://www.wallraf.museum/en/collections/middle-ages/floorplan/gallery-7/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gauguin

S.VIJAYARAGHAVAN
IBDP – VISUAL ARTS FACULTY
NPS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, SINGAPORE
vijayaraghavan.srinivasan@npsinternational.edu.sg