Art is either revolution or plagiarism
1891. Leaving his wife and children behind in Copenhagen, the French painter Paul Gauguin headed to the Polynesian island of Tahiti. Not only was this escape from Europe a liberation from social conventions, it also offered a world of inspiration: a paradise full of colour and a culture steeped in mythology. Despite this being a prolific period in the painter’s life, his Tahitian work received little more than scorn back in France, where the Impressionists were dominating salon life. Nevertheless, he remained a fearless adventurer and outcast, passionately committed to his dreams – even if they could only be realised at the expense of everything else.
Fabrizio Dori vividly documents the last few years of the influential Post-Impressionist artist who paved the way for the likes of Picasso, Matisse and Míro. Dori confronts Gauguin’s all too human failings, while also capturing his extraordinary artistic energy. Using a colour palette that evokes the landscapes and figures of his iconic paintings, Dori brings to life the innate beauty and soul of Tahiti.
Publishing 6 March, RRP £12.99
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