Works On Paper Collection Paul Gauguin Portrait of Clovis and Pola Gauguin (1848—1903) This pastel is an example of contiguous, complementary blue and yellow tones, which can be seen in the wall, the upholstery, the kitten, and Clovis' shirt and hair. The somber, expressionless faces indicate the hardship of Paul Gaugin and his wife's separation on the family, which was also expressed in letters written by Gaugin to his contemporaries, Pissarro and Schuffenecker. Gaugin's dedication to art can be seen through this subject matter and his choice to sacrifice his familial relationships for his art. Although it has been said that this portrait was completed prior to Gaugin leaving Copenhagen, there are a few details that suggest that it was completed in Paris instead. Once Gaugin arrived in Paris, he requested that his pastels be sent there. A light penciled-in grid can also be found underneath his subjects, indicating that he did not draw them live, but rather from a drawing he had brought back with him to his new city. |
  
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