Self-Portrait by Paul Gauguin (1889)
What we learned-
- Gauguin left his job as a stock broker to become a painter later in his life.
- Gauguin’s work is strongly influenced by the time he spent living in Tahiti- which accounts for his bold, bright colors.
- This self-portrait features elements that allude to the Garden of Eden. By holding the snake (which represents sin) while a halo floats above his head (representing his being made in God’s image), Gauguin shows us that he is a fallen child of God.
Discussion Questions:
- Why did he include apples in the background?
- Why do you think Gauguin decided to add only elements of the Garden of Eden, rather than depicting a full garden in his background?
- In the portrait, Gauguin is looking at the snake. What do you think he is thinking?
