Provenance
Emily Crane Chadbourne, Chicago, by 1913 [New York 1913]; given to the Art Institute, 1922.
Accession Number
5511
Medium
Black and red chalk, selectively stumped, on cream wove paper
Dimensions
35.2 × 36.9 cm (13 7/8 × 14 9/16 in.)
Classification
chalk
Credit Line
Gift of Emily Crane Chadbourne
Background & Context
Background Story
Paul Gauguin's Head of a Tahitian with Profile of Second Head to His Right (1891/93) is a black and red chalk drawing with selective stumping on cream wove paper. This double portrait study shows a Tahitian head in full face with a second head in profile. The combination of black and red chalk creates a warm, rich effect. Gauguin made many studies of Tahitian faces, seeking to capture the distinctive features and character of the people he lived among.
Cultural Impact
Gauguin's studies of Tahitian faces document his engagement with the indigenous people of the Pacific.
Why It Matters
This chalk study of a Tahitian head shows Gauguin's careful observation of the distinctive features of the island people.
