Accession Number
159085
Medium
Watercolor monotype on ivory Japanese paper, discolored to tan, laid down on tan wove paper
Dimensions
Primary support: 24.2 × 20 cm (9 9/16 × 7 7/8 in.); Secondary support: 35.3 × 26.2 cm (13 15/16 × 10 3/8 in.)
Classification
watercolor
Credit Line
Gift of Edward McCormick Blair
Background & Context
Background Story
Paul Gauguin's Bust of a Tahitian Woman (1894) is a portrait study focusing on the woman's face and upper body. The focus on features and expression allowed Gauguin to capture individual character. These portrait studies were essential to his practice, providing material for larger compositions.
Cultural Impact
Gauguin's portrait studies of Tahitian women document his engagement with the people of the Pacific islands.
Why It Matters
This bust portrait of a Tahitian woman captures the individual character of the sitter.
