Woman with Cow, and Goose; Counterproof [verso] 1884 - 1888

Paul Gauguin likely made this sketch of a woman with a cow and a goose in France during the late 19th century. It's a counterproof, meaning it's an impression taken from a freshly printed image, resulting in a reversed and often fainter version. Gauguin was interested in portraying rural life, but not just as it was. His art often idealized peasant communities as a refuge from modern urban life. We can see here how the simplified forms and understated lines contribute to a sense of idyllic simplicity. To understand this work fully, we'd want to look at other works by Gauguin, particularly those depicting rural life in Brittany or later, his more famous paintings of Tahiti. We might also investigate the art market of the late 19th century, the rise of museums, and how those institutions influenced artists like Gauguin.