Paul Gauguin on Color

Very well said and very true words from Gauguin in the following quote:

"There are tonalities which are noble and others which are vulgar, harmonies which are calm or consoling, and others which are exciting because of their boldness. "

-Paul Gauguin

His painting below I think is a good example. One thing I find interesting about it is the contrast between the two different yellows used for the flowers and the background behind them. Also, the contrast between the yellow and red obviously is kind of disturbing, or bold to say the least. A nice grassy green in the apples and leaves is kind of offset by the flesh tone. From the contrast between the halo and the snake in his hand, to the symbolism of the apples, to the flowers and his portrait blooming from them, a lot of things could be said on the theme of the work. But I'll leave that for you to decide. For 1889 or anytime, it is a very interesting painting.

Gauguin - Self-portrait with Halo, 1889 Oil on wood.

Paul Gauguin On Van Gogh

For me, the relationship between Van Gogh and Gauguin is a pivotal moment in modern art history. Gauguin as we know, lived with Vincent for a short time before moving on, eventually to more tropical surroundings. Let's look at a quote from Gauguin on Van Gogh:

"But I owe something to Vincent, and that is, in the consciousness of having been useful to him, the confirmation of my own original ideas about painting. And also, at difficult moments, the remembrance that one finds others unhappier than oneself."

-Paul Gauguin

Both artist's play a major role in the development of modern art, and had a huge influence on each other. It's the relationship between artists and the sharing of ideas, that breeds cultural growth. Both were passionate artists prone to bouts of depression who found solace in their work, with of course Vincent eventually falling more heavily into illness. Both artists changed the world of painting forever.

Van Gogh Painting Sunflowers, Paul Gauguin, 1888.

Gauguin on the Modern Art Audience

Gauguin was alive from 1848-1903. His words are has true today, if not more so than when he wrote them.

“The history of modern art is also the history of the progressive loss of art's audience. Art has increasingly become the concern of the artist and the bafflement of the public.”

-Paul Gauguin

Although artists like Jackson Pollack, Salvador Dali, and Andy Warhol achieved a measure of popular success during their lifetime, there remains a disconnect between the philosophy of modern art has a whole, and culture in general. That's part of the goal here at Modern Art Quotes, to give a more down to earth exploration of the ideals involved in modern art.