Still life with Japanese print 1888

Paul Gauguin made this still life with oil paint, showing a Japanese print alongside everyday objects. Gauguin applied the oil paint thickly onto the canvas, creating visible brushstrokes. This process of applying the paint endows the painting with a tactile quality that draws attention to its surface, emphasizing the materiality of the painting itself. The rough handling of the brush is evident in the bold outlines of the forms and the visible texture of the paint. The artist was deeply interested in the expressive potential of color. It isn't used to accurately represent the real world, but to express emotions and ideas. The color palette is rich and vibrant, with bold contrasts between the reds, greens, and yellows of the fruit, and the dark tones of the ceramic jar. Gauguin was fascinated by non-Western cultures, and the inclusion of the Japanese print reflects this interest, raising questions about the relationship between art and cultural appropriation. By including both art and everyday objects, the artist challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft. The material handling of the paint itself, alongside the objects represented, speaks to a broader cultural exchange, inviting a reevaluation of the boundaries of creative expression.