Two Heads; Studies of Sheep [recto] 1884 - 1888

Paul Gauguin's "Two Heads; Studies of Sheep", is a drawing executed with brown ink on paper, presenting a study in contrasts and forms. On the left, we observe two human heads rendered with delicate, flowing lines capturing their profiles with a sense of quiet introspection. In contrast, the right side features studies of sheep, fragmented and abstracted, yet retaining the essence of their animal nature. Gauguin’s use of line is particularly striking here. It's loose and expressive, defining shape and volume with minimal strokes. This economy of means draws attention to the underlying structure of his subjects, rather than their surface details. The composition, divided into two distinct yet interconnected halves, destabilizes traditional modes of representation, prompting reflection on the relationship between human and animal, figure and form. Gauguin invites us to decode the symbolic potential inherent within the simplest of lines. It encourages us to see beyond the surface and engage with the deeper structural and semiotic possibilities of representation.