Jean René Gauguin 1881

Editor: This is *Jean Renè Gauguin*, a drawing by Paul Gauguin from 1881, housed right here at the Art Institute. It looks like it’s mixed media—chalk, pastel, maybe some ink? The subject, a baby, stares intensely. I find it kind of haunting. What do you see in it? Curator: Haunting is a perfect word! I’m immediately struck by that gaze too. It reminds me of those Renaissance portraits where children have this uncanny, wise beyond their years stare. Gauguin’s obviously working with Impressionistic techniques here, but is there also something more, a premonition perhaps of his later, more symbolic style? It's a portrait, yes, but I wonder if it's more of an evocation, or even an emotional impression of the child? It's a lovely moment of fatherly observation. Editor: So you think that the gaze might speak to some premonitions that Gauguin had of the child’s life? Curator: Premonitions might be too strong a word…but, artists don't just transcribe; they *interpret*. Perhaps, looking at his own child, Gauguin saw something fragile, something intense—something perhaps that resonated with his own uncertainties. What do you make of the colors— the washes of browns and creams? Editor: They’re muted, like faded memories. I think they amplify that feeling of the past and contribute to this intense sensation of longing. Curator: Exactly! Almost sepia toned; invoking memories in monochrome. Art isn’t always about sharp edges and definition; sometimes it’s in the blurry spaces where feeling resides, right? Editor: I see what you mean. It is more about capturing a moment, which gives it that intense feeling. I won’t forget this tender portrait anytime soon!