Paul Gauguin - Artist Biography

Considered by many to be one of the fathers of modern art, Paul Gauguin was a French painter who straddled the border between Impressionism and the more radical styles that would come after it. Considered a post-Impressionist, Gauguin is known for his vivid colors, two-dimensional shapes and unique choices of subject matter.

Gauguin: the Post-Impressionist
Born to a middle-class Parisian family in 1848, Gauguin had a rather atypical early life. He spent several years in Peru and also served for a time in the French merchant marines. After returning to Paris he became a stockbroker, and actually had a bit of success in the field. After marrying and having a few children, it appeared that Gauguin's life path had been determined.

In 1874, however, a fateful meeting with the painter Camille Pissarro would change everything. Inspired by the meeting, Gauguin began to collect art and even began experimenting with his own paintings. It turned out that he had a natural gift: within a few years, Gauguin was exhibiting with the Impressionists in Paris.

In 1883, Gauguin gave up his comfortable life as a stockbroker and began devoting himself full-time to his art. Over the next twenty years, Gauguin would live a difficult but productive life, turning out some of the most beautiful paintings of his time despite rather rough circumstances. Most of Gauguin's most famous and memorable works are available in print form on PosterCheckOut's website.