Sketches of Children, a Woman, and Profiles (recto), Sketches of Horses and Child (verso) 1891 - 1893

This drawing, Sketches of Children, a Woman, and Profiles, offers a glimpse into the world of Paul Gauguin, who was born in 1848. Gauguin, a leading Post-Impressionist artist, created this sketch seemingly as a preparation for larger compositions. The images of the children are particularly striking. What do we make of Gauguin's choice to focus on youth? How might we consider his representations in relation to the colonial context of his time? When Gauguin made his famous journeys to French Polynesia, he sought an escape from European civilization, yet he also participated in and perpetuated colonial fantasies about the "exotic" and the "primitive". We can interpret these sketches through the lens of cultural exchange and its complexities, recognizing the power dynamics inherent in Gauguin's gaze. While his art is celebrated for its formal innovations, it’s important to reflect critically on how it intersects with broader societal issues and the lives of those he depicted.