Comparative StudyVisual Analysis

CONNECTION

S.VIJAYARAGHAVAN

Comparative Study – Paul Gauguin 7 June 1848 – 8 May

1903 The Yellow Christ (1889) Oil on Canvas 'The Yellow Christ' is a classic example of his style. It

depicts some traditional Breton women praying at a roadside grotto but it is not a documentary illustration of the scene; it is an attempt to portray the spiritual vision that they experience in their prayer. In this painting Gauguin was inspired by the naive simplicity of a wooden 17th century crucifix that he saw in the nearby church at Tremalo and he uses its primitive form and autumnal yellow color as a key to the work.

He then simplifies his drawing, boldly outlines his shapes and exaggerates his color to magnify the heightened emotion of the women's prayerful meditation.

'Tahitian Landscape', 1893 (oil on canvas)

This picture, one of the first he painted in the South Seas, exhibits the artist's characteristic Post-Impressionist style. In it, Gauguin used sinuous contours and intense colors to express the joy and serenity inspired by the lush tropical site.Tahiti would become Gauguin's home for most of the last twelve years of his life. He once said of his Tahitian paintings that he had been "eager to suggest a luxurious and untamed nature, a tropical sun that sets aglow everything around it...the equivalent of the grandeur, depth, and mystery of Tahiti when it must be expressed in one square meter of canvas."

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CONNECTION

Master of the Lyversberg Passion or Master of the life of the Virgin (UNKNOWN) "Christ on the Cross with Mary, John and Mary Magdalene" Dimensions: 86.4 x 72.9 cm Medium: Oil Painting on Oak, Creation Date: 1465 - 1470

PAUL GAUGUIN (1848-1903) 'The Yellow Christ', 1889 (oil on canvas) C

B PAUL GAUGUIN (1848-1903) 'Tahitian Landscape', 1893 (oil on canvas)

Comparative Study – Paul Gauguin

Master of the Life of the Virgin, Christ on the Cross with Mary, John and Mary Magdalene, c. 1465/1470. Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne, Germany

In The Yellow Christ (1889) often cited as a quintessential cloisonnist work, Gauguin reduced the cross to areas of single colors separated by heavy black outlines and have direct influence from post renaissance painting. In such works he paid little attention to classical perspective and boldly eliminated subtle gradations of color — two of the most characteristic principles of post-Renaissance painting.

C http://daydreamtourist.com/2013/02/04/mary-magdalene/

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Comparative Study – Direct Influences from his own painting – “Tahitian Landscape”

SUBJECT: Catholism ancient Celtic beliefs, anthropological study – Breton peoples

SUBJECT: Tahitian Landscape – Reflects rural area with warm colours

INFLUENCES: Artist used technique known as ‘Cloisonnism’ - medieval technique for decorative enamel work Many historians believe that Gauguin painted his own face as the face of Christ because he felt that, like Christ, he had suffered and was still suffering – he endured the many woes of an artist.

Also, the man running in the background is caught in the act of getting away, which represents the late 19th century desire to "get away" from the city life and get back to the "primitive“.

Triangular representations

COMPOSITION

Typical academic style of composition and Artist used one point

perspective. The path shows very clearly to leads vanishing in one point perspective.

TECHNIQUE: Artist used oil on canvas in this painting and bold outline with vivid colour scheme . Highly inspired from ‘Cloisonnism’ rom post –renaissance period.

COMPOSITION Unique arrangement in this composition, more into

primitive style. he paid little attention to classical perspective

Colour Scheme: (Direct influence from Tahitian Landscape

INTENTION In this painting Gauguin expressed in unusual way of depicting the characterization and cultural significance. it is an attempt to portray the spiritual vision that they experience in their prayer. It is more connected into social and spiritual context rather than Religion.

TECHNIQUE: Artist used oil on canvas in this picture and less outline

and flat colour approach

INFLUENCES: In this painting artist used direct influences from the nature and shows geographical condition of the place.

INTENTION In this painting artist captured natural beauty of Tahitian landscape . He attempt well in the artistic feature s of colour balance, harmony , mood and atmosphere.

IMAGE ANNOTATION (Similarities and differences)

Similar arrangement in the Holy Cross

SUBJECT: Catholism ancient Celtic beliefs, anthropological study – Breton peoples

TECHNIQUE: Artist used oil on oak in

this picture and less outline

and flat colour approach

SUBJECT: Strong Religious Painting Biblical scenes represented

Landscape Similarities

Colour Scheme: Differences

(Direct influence from Tahitian Landscape

Typical post renaissance

style

SPACE and BALANCE : Similarities Both paintings having similar annotated diagrams in the pictorial composition

INFLUENCES: In this painting artist used direct influences from biblical stories.

COMPOSITION Typical Classical perspective, can easily find direct similarities of Gaugain’s Yellow christ (Compare Triangular diagrams)

Triangular representations

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TECHNIQUE: Artist used oil on canvas in this painting and bold outline with vivid colour scheme . Highly inspired from ‘Cloisonnism’ rom post –renaissance period.

COMPOSITION Unique arrangement in this composition, more

into primitive style. he paid little attention to classical perspective (Compare Triangular diagrams)

INTENTION In this painting Gauguin depicts some traditional Breton women praying at a roadside grotto but it is not a documentary illustration of the scene; it is an attempt to portray the spiritual vision that they experience in their prayer.

Master of the Lyversberg Passion or Master of the life of the Virgin (UNKNOWN) "Christ on the Cross with Mary, John and Mary Magdalene" Dimensions: 86.4 x 72.9 cm Medium: Oil painting on Oak Creation Date: 1465 - 1470

INTENTION The wealthy Mary of Magdala (a city along the Sea of Galilee) was said to be cured of an illness by Jesus and became a close follower of his. While the 12 Disciples scattered during the crucifiction, it was Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary and John that stay at the cross.

IMAGE ANNOTATION (Similarities and differences)

Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloisonnism

http://daydreamtourist.com/2013/02/04/mary-magdalene/http://www.artsconnected.org/resource/8518/tahitian-landscape

http://www.intltravelnews.com/images/2006/07/big/

pgfg.jpghttp://www.aaronartprints.org/gauguin-

theyellowchrist.phphttp://www.gluckliche-eme.com/

miscgermanartists.htm

http://www.wallraf.museum/en/collections/middle-ages/floorplan/

gallery-7/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gauguin

S.VIJAYARAGHAVAN, IB Visual Arts FacultyNPS International School, Singaporevijay.svhavan@gmail.com

all copy rights reserved | S. Vijayaraghavan, Year 2014