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International Art Treasures Web Magazine October 2005 |
Gauguin and ImpressionismOrdrupgaard, Copenhagen
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Royalty, discovery and revolution are descriptive terms apropos to the exhibit launching the reopening of the Ordrupgaard Gauguin and Impressionism. |
The Royal Couple
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The Ordrupgaard were honored with the attendance of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik at the preview of Gauguin and Impressionism |
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The Discovered Gauguin
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For the first time a bust of Jean Gauguin, the artist's son, will be on public display. The work had been in the home of a private Danish family who were unaware of the artist and placed the red wax bust on display each year as part of their Christmas decorations. |
Attribution is a painstaking process one must be accurate for one's reputation is at stake for that reason it took Ordrupgaard Director Anne-Birgitte Fonsmark a few years before the sculpture was recognized as a Gauguin and placed in the art-historic context of the 1880s.
The time fame is important for it was known to be during an artistic rivalry between Gauguin and Edgar Degas.
Revolution
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Gauguin and Impressionism is an exploration of the early artistic years of the French native. He spent much of his youth in South American before relocating with his family to Paris. He was a successful stockbroker limiting his artistic works to a hobby during his limited free time, given his growing family with his wife Danish native Mette Sophie Gad. |
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Title: Snow at Vaugirard II, 1879
Artist: Paul Gauguin (French 1848-1903)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 23 7/8 x 31 3/4 in. (60.5 x 80.5 cm)
Permanent Collection: Szépmüvészeti Museum, Budapest
Image Courtesy: Ordrupgaard, Copenhagen, Denmark
Gauguin visited the first Impressionist Exhibit held in 1874 and met Camille Pissarro who would become a strong influence encouraging an artistic career as an impressionist. This is a key component of this exhibit it looks at the works done before his symbolist genre.
Title: The Queen and Prince learn about the Gauguin exhibit
Image Courtesy: Ordrupgaard, Copenhagen, Denmark
Title: The Little Dreamer, 1881
Artist: Paul Gauguin (French 1848-1903)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 60 x 74 cm
Photo ©: Pernille Klemp
Permanent Collection & Image Courtesy: Ordrupgaard, Copenhagen, Denmark
As Anne-Birgitte Fonsmark explains, "The time has come to reassess his early works. This extremely productive period in Gauguin's career is particularly fascinating and sheds new light on the artist's work. Already at this stage, we can see the contours of the colorfully radiant symbolic art that he would go on to create on Tahiti."
Title: Basket of Flowers, 1884
Artist: Paul Gauguin (French 1848-1903)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 18 3/4 x 23 5/8 in (47.5 x 60 cm)
Permanent Collection: Philadelphia Museum of Art
Bequest of: Charlotte Dorrance
Photographer: Eric Mitchell
Image Courtesy: Ordrupgaard, Copenhagen, Denmark
It was at the fourth Impressionist exhibit held in 1879 that Gauguin is included thanks to Degas and Pissarro. Gauguin selected a marble sculpture of his first son, Emil, to be on display.
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Gauguin continued to exhibit with the Impressionists moving away from his career as a businessman unfortunately the artist found it difficult to support his family as a fulltime artist. |
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Title: Vase of Peonies I, 1884
Artist: Paul Gauguin (French 1848-1903)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 60 x 73 cm
Collection: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Image ©: Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art Washington DC USA
Image Courtesy: Ordrupgaard, Copenhagen, Denmark
His wife returned to her Danish homeland hoping to settle given the uncertain financial times in Paris. Her husband joins her planning to pursue a business career while Mette taught French to support their family.
Title: Geese in the Meadow, 1885
Artist: Paul Gauguin (French 1848-1903)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 22 x 39 3/8 in. (56 x 100 cm)
Permanent Collection: Portland Museum of Art, Maine.
The Joan Whitney Payson Collection at the Portland Museum of Art.
Promised Gift of Joan Whitney Payson
Image Courtesy: Ordrupgaard, Copenhagen, Denmark
Within a year Gauguin returns to France taking one son, Clovis, with him and leaving Mette with his other children in Denmark. It marked the end of their marriage.
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After returning to Paris Gauguin in included in the final Impressionist exhibit, 1886, his works were not well received and he began to turn his attention to ceramics and later to avant-garde painting. |
Gauguin and Impressionism delves into the development of one of the foremost symbolist artists during his early years and works.
Title: Still Life with Laval's Profile, 1886
Artist: Paul Gauguin (French 1848-1903)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 46 x 38 cm
Permanent Collection: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Samuel Josefowitz Collection of the school of Pont-Aven,
through the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc., the
Josefowitz Family, Mr. and Mrs. James M. Cornelius, Mr. and
Mrs. Leonard J. Betley, Lori and Dan Efroymson, and other friends of the Museum
Image Courtesy: Ordrupgaard, Copenhagen, Denmark
Paul Gauguin and Impressionism
Ordrupgaard:
through November 20, 2005
Kimbell Art Museum:
December 18 2005 - March 26, 2006