Landscape with three figures 1901

Paul Gauguin conjured this landscape with three figures, likely in the late 1800s, using oil on canvas. What strikes me first is the sheer directness of the brushstrokes. Gauguin wasn’t trying to hide his process; you can almost feel him wrestling with the paint, pushing it around to capture the scene. The colours are so earthy, yet vibrant. Look at the way he uses that intense red-orange in the foreground. It’s almost like the ground itself is breathing fire! Then, there’s that little stroke of pure white on the back of the horse, right in the shadows, bringing the eye into the heart of the painting. The paint has a lovely, thick texture in places, which contrasts with the thin washes of color that make up the sky, creating a sense of depth. It makes me think of van Gogh, another artist who wasn't afraid to let his emotions run wild on the canvas, and how they both opened the door for future generations to explore painting as an expression of pure feeling. Isn’t art just a conversation between people across time?