Poèmes barbares (1896)

Paul Gauguin is the artist behind "Poèmes barbares", dated 1896. Historical background, 1896: The later nineteenth century is the era of Impressionism, whose first group exhibition was held in Paris in 1874, followed by Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and the Arts and Crafts movement. Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do. The catalogue places it in Mythology. The format is portrait. Mythology, a short history: Artists from the Renaissance to the Symbolists returned to myth to explore love, power, fate, and transformation. Mythological painting draws on stories from Greek and Roman myth, and on other traditions such as Norse, Celtic, and Hindu narrative.

On onlly.art "Poèmes barbares" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks.

French, 1848–1903

If you like the visual language of Paul Gauguin, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.