Mrs. Keyfitz's Art Blog

Art Inspiration, Discussion & Appreciation




Vision After the Sermon by Paul Gauguin (1888) What we learned- Gauguin was a stockbroker before giving up his career to pursue art, which he’d been interested in since childhood. In 1891, Gauguin left Europe and “everything that is artificial and conventional” to travel and live in Polynesia, most notably living and working in Tahiti. Gauguin’s artwork was greatly influenced by the culture and colors of Tahitian life, which were the primary subjects of his most significant paintings. Discussion Questions: Why did Gauguin place the subjects of the painting in the background (with the onlookers in the foreground)? Why did Gauguin use red so prominently in this work? Find this scene in the Bible: 32 of Genesis and chapter 12 of the Book of Hosea.  How would you rate Gauguin’s depiction of this scene?

Vision After the Sermon by Paul Gauguin (1888)

What we learned-

  • Gauguin was a stockbroker before giving up his career to pursue art, which he’d been interested in since childhood.
  • In 1891, Gauguin left Europe and “everything that is artificial and conventional” to travel and live in Polynesia, most notably living and working in Tahiti.
  • Gauguin’s artwork was greatly influenced by the culture and colors of Tahitian life, which were the primary subjects of his most significant paintings.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why did Gauguin place the subjects of the painting in the background (with the onlookers in the foreground)?
  2. Why did Gauguin use red so prominently in this work?
  3. Find this scene in the Bible: 32 of Genesis and chapter 12 of the Book of Hosea.  How would you rate Gauguin’s depiction of this scene?

Notes