Le sourire: Journal sérieux, Oct. 13, 1899 1899

Curator: Look at this delightful sheet – it’s "Le Sourire: Journal sérieux," by Paul Gauguin, created in 1899. What springs to mind for you? Editor: It's so text-heavy, almost like a handwritten newsletter. It’s a print, but feels intimate and personal. I’m drawn to the title, "Le Sourire," and wonder if it’s ironic, considering the dense, seemingly serious text underneath. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, irony, a fine starting point! It’s more of a satirical outpouring from Gauguin's time in Tahiti, a world away from the Parisian art scene. I think it gives a glimpse into his thoughts and what really mattered to him then. That blend of the printed word with art – what does that suggest to you? Is he using writing as a medium here? Editor: It's like he's trying to communicate directly with his audience, bypassing traditional art forms. But I’m still struggling to decipher the tone – is it genuinely light-hearted or something else? Curator: Both! And more… It’s playful and serious, critical and compassionate – all tangled together, much like life, isn’t it? Editor: That’s a good point, but I'm curious about its relationship to Post-Impressionism: I mostly think of vivid colours when I think about Post-Impressionism, but here there is more emphasis on line. Does the colour then not play an important role in this case? Curator: Exactly, colour has taken a backseat in favor of exploring a range of possibilities that only printing allows, pushing those post-impressionistic principles of subjectivity and personal expression further! It allows you, even encourages you to have your own reaction! Editor: I didn't really catch how it felt like his experience speaking back through the print. Thanks. Curator: Indeed! Isn't it intriguing how art can whisper secrets across time?