Landscape with three trees 1892

This is Paul Gauguin’s oil on canvas painting titled "Landscape with three trees," painted during his time in French Polynesia. Gauguin, a figure of the Post-Impressionist movement, left France seeking an escape from what he perceived as the artificiality of European society. His works from this period are saturated with exoticism, reflecting a romantic, yet problematic, view of non-Western cultures. In this landscape, we can see a tension between Gauguin's desire to represent the "authenticity" of Polynesian life and the reality of colonial influence. "I shut my eyes in order to see," Gauguin once said, revealing his subjective approach. The figures, possibly representing native women, are depicted in a way that is both intimate and distant. Gauguin’s perspective offers a narrative that is both personal and indicative of broader colonial attitudes. The lush, vibrant colors and the serene setting invite a sense of peace, yet we must also consider the complex cultural dynamics at play. This painting reflects societal fascination with the ‘other’, filtered through Gauguin's personal lens.