Description
Paul Gauguin – Yellow Christ
Year of creation: | 1889 |
Original size: | 73.4 cm x 92.1 cm |
Painting style: | Symbolism |
Original technique: | Oil on canvas |
Located: | Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, USA |
The oil on canvas Yellow Christ was painted by Gauguin in the autumn of 1889. Together with the painting Green Christ, it represents one of the most important works of symbolism in the art of painting.
This is a symbolic work depicting the crucifixion of Christ in the 19th century in northern France; below the cross, Breton women pray. For this oil on canvas, Gauguin used strong strokes to depict the figures, using shading only on the female figures. The landscape’s autumnal palette of yellows, reds and greens matches the dominant yellow hues the painter used to depict the figure of Christ. The strong lines and flat shapes in this painting are characteristic of a painting style called cloisonnisme.
