Schooner and three masters 1886

Paul Gauguin painted "Schooner and three masters" with oil on canvas, it's evocative of northern France sometime in the late 1870s. Gauguin was deeply engaged with the Impressionists at this time, a group of artists who interrogated the social function of the French Salon. Here we see a harbor scene depicted through loose brushstrokes and muted colors, characteristic of the Impressionist style. Gauguin would have been very aware of the rise of industrial capitalism in France, which led to the growth of port cities and a new working class. This piece may comment on the changing social landscape and the growing importance of maritime trade in France. To fully understand this piece, one could research the economic history of France during the late 19th century, as well as the social history of the Impressionist movement. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context, and that is something art historians must always consider.