Aline, la fille de l’artiste c. 1878

This sketch of Aline, the artist's daughter, was made by Paul Gauguin, though the date of the work remains unknown. During his time, Gauguin worked against the strictures of academic art and the bourgeois values of the late 19th century. This image is an intimate portrayal, revealing a familial side of Gauguin, one at odds with his later persona as a 'savage' artist who rejected Western society. It raises questions about the public role of art and the politics of imagery. Consider the social conditions that shape artistic production and consumption. Was it a study for a larger work, or a private memento? Understanding Gauguin’s artistic development requires looking at exhibition reviews, letters, and the broader cultural debates around primitivism and colonialism in France. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.