Gauguin Then and Now: Art, Myth and Controversy

3 units

An examination of the art and career of Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) and the artistic, social, and political milieu of colonialism in which he worked in France, Polynesia and the Caribbean. Topics include avant-garde Impressionist and Symbolist cultures, the power of the art market/dealer system, the artist's writings (in translation), French colonial culture and pervasive myths of island paradise, and the pressing critiques offered today by post-colonial and feminist theory. Final third of the course will focus on the varied global reception of his work in the 20th and 21st centuries, and controversies over his art, writings and legacies, particularly among contemporary Pacific Islander artists, and artists of color. We will consult museum collections as possible; French language skills for research are useful, but not required.