Eye and Part of Face; A Breton Woman and Two Men [recto] 1884 - 1888

Editor: Here we have "Eye and Part of Face; A Breton Woman and Two Men," a drawing by Paul Gauguin created sometime between 1884 and 1888. It feels so intimate, like a glimpse into a sketchbook. The isolated eye is quite striking! What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, Gauguin! It's like stumbling upon a private moment, isn't it? The direct gaze of the woman on the left, the unfinished nature of the surrounding sketches – it whispers of capturing fleeting impressions. I find it fascinating that he isolates the eye. Perhaps he’s asking us to really *see*, beyond the surface, beyond conventional portraiture. Do you get a sense of place from these figures? Editor: Brittany, right? Gauguin's time there, his interest in capturing local culture... The simplified lines, they feel so modern for their time. How much was he consciously moving away from traditional art at this stage? Curator: Precisely. Gauguin was, after all, searching for something 'authentic', far from the perceived constraints of Parisian art circles. See how the quick strokes imply form, but don't rigidly define it? This sketch is, in a sense, a record of a search, a feeling out. It almost has an unfinished and "I wasn't quite happy with it" feel. Is there anything particularly poignant for you? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. The 'authenticity' angle gives another perspective. For me, I think that singular eye really does it. A lot is happening right there. I thought I was looking at a snapshot from some distant place and time, but, really, maybe that face in the foreground is telling us more than we even know. Curator: Precisely, its appeal transcends what we see. And the very sketch-like essence hints at something deeply rooted, and maybe yet to grow, as a representation of art in general! I find myself wondering what Gauguin would have said if he were here!