Paul Gauguin (goh GAN) was born in Paris, France. His
father died
while the family was moving to Peru. Paul with his mother and older
sister Mari continued on to Peru and stayed with rich relatives there
for six years.
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When he was seventeen years old he became a sailor and
traveled around
the world. He spent some time in the Navy, then became a stockbroker's
clerk in Paris. He became quite successful at the stock exchange and
also began painting during his free time.
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He married Mette Sophie Gad in 1873 and they had five
children; Emile, Aline, Clovis, Jean Rene, and Pola.
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Ten years after their marriage he left his family. He
had quit his job
as a stockbroker to spend full time painting. His income from his
paintings was not enough to take care of his wife and children. What a
shame! Today a painting by Gauguin may sell for as much as $39 million.
Because he wanted to devote full time to his art career, he sent his
family to live with his wife's parents in Copenhagen. Gauguin abandoned
them and went back to Paris.
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Van Gogh's brother Theo, who was Gauguin's art dealer,
suggested
Gauguin visit his brother Vincent Van Gogh. Gauguin and Van Gogh did
not get along at all, and the visit ended after Van Gogh cut off his
own ear.
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In 1891 he decided to escape civilization and sailed
to the South Seas.
He spent the rest of his life on Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands. Many
of the paintings he produced in his later life reflect the tranquil
scenes he viewed in this setting. During these years he also fathered
three more children; two daughters and a son by Tahitian women.
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One of his most famous works "Where Do We Come
From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?"
was painted in 1897. Apparently Gauguin was troubled by trying to find
the answers to these questions. He tried to commit suicide shortly
after he finished the large painting.
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In 1903 due to a problem with the church and the
government he was
sentenced to three months in prison, and he owed a fine. At that time
he was being supported by an art dealer. He died before he could start
the prison sentence. His body had been weakened by alcoholism and a
dissipated life style. He was 55 years old.
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The featured painting on this page, M. Loulou is the
portrait of a
young boy which Gauguin painted when he was in Brittany. In the
background you see hydrangeas which bloomed there during the summer.
The painting is a part of the Barnes Collection which was on exhibit at
the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1994.
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