Rouen at spring 1884

Paul Gauguin captured the quiet arrival of spring in Rouen with oil on canvas. He was born in France during a time of massive social change and industrial expansion, shaped by colonial attitudes. Here, we see not a grand vista but an intimate corner of a garden, revealing the artist's shifting focus towards personal experience. The brushwork is loose, capturing the fleeting light and the soft textures of budding leaves. Notice how the buildings sit in the background, partially hidden. A figure in the mid-ground is partially obscured by the greenery. Gauguin once said, "I shut my eyes in order to see." This painting invites us to do the same, to feel the quiet solitude of spring, a moment of renewal that transcends social and political turmoil. It reflects a search for a more authentic and personal mode of expression.