Paul Gaugin
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), born into a bourgeois family in Paris, was initially a businessman who became interested in art and first engaged in painting as an amateur. At the age of 35, the self-taught painter left his company and became a professional painter. But this was not an irresponsible and careless escape from responsibility and family, as he continued to strive to support the family. If he could, he helped the family with painting, otherwise he looked for another job.
After impressionism somewhat disappointed him, as it was still too mimetic, Paul Gauguin moved towards a more expressionistic expressiveness, and according to the poetic spirit was also a symbolist. He finally fled to Tahiti in 1891, where he perfected a style that later represented one of the paths that 20th century painting followed.
After Tahiti, mainly due to financial hardship, he moved to the Marquesas Islands, where he spent most of the rest of his life (he returned to Paris only once). He died in great agony due to syphilis.