A Breton Gleaner 1886

Paul Gauguin made this drawing of a Breton Gleaner, using humble materials - paper, charcoal, and pastel. The visible strokes of these materials bring an immediacy to the image. The pastel adds soft hues, while the charcoal defines the gleaner's stooped posture. Gleaning, the act of gathering leftover crops after harvest, was a job reserved for the poorest members of rural communities. Gauguin’s choice of this subject matter connects the artwork to social realities of labor and class. The drawing’s texture and weight further emphasize the physical exertion of gleaning. There's a sense of the grit and grime of the field embedded in the charcoal marks, reminding us of the hard work of agricultural labor, a raw and visceral sense of the everyday. Considering these materials, processes, and their cultural context, enhances our understanding of Gauguin's artistic choices. It challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft by highlighting the intersection of art and everyday life.