Paul Gauguin: 1848-1903: the Primitive Sophisticate

This book was first published in 1988 and it seems some color plates were taken directly from that edition. If you want a nice collection of Gauguin images to look at - look elsewhere.

As with many less careful publishers, this one took great liberties with the actual color of the paintings probably trying to appeal more to a less knowing audience with more colorful versions of the actual work. The price was low, and so was the integrity of the publisher.

I knew most of the background information on him already but the pictures and art are very vivid and worth the cost.

Good introductory book on Gaugain and his works.

The opening quote of this book is from Gauguin, who says, “I am great artist, and I know it.” The wealthy stockbroker who collected Impressionist paintings would leave that life behind—and essentially abandon his family—to become a broke painter, though not quite an Impressionist one. This book is a fabulous primer on Gauguin’s life, his approach to art, and his many flaws and complications. Highly recommended for how readable and well-structured the book is. But it will spoil your perception of him as a cool guy or good man, if you believed either of those things. He was a brash jerk of a person, but the author still makes you care about his life, and that is the accomplishment of the book. The paintings will defend and justify themselves—though the book still does a good job analyzing the art—but Gauguin himself is a much harder sell.

un buon prodotto.. quello che mi aspettavo