Grand Gauguin

So a rare Gauguin sculpture is up for say and I'm just going to scrape together the 15 mil and go for it!

But all kidding aside, Gauguin was great and not enough people know it. The reason? well he worked around the same time as Van Gogh, even worked in the same house as Van Gogh for a while and well, no matter how good you are, the mere legend of Van Gogh is one of the most famous and well-known in twentieth century art and basically overshadows everyone, except to the specifically art-history interested. But anyone who doesn't know Gauguin is really missing out. While Van Gogh wore feelings on his sleeve, painted as tumultuously as his personal life, and had the cliche "artists mental illness", Gauguin painted beautifully thought out narratives full of symbolism, fierce emotion, and power.

Van Gogh had waving fields, hurriedly painted people, and swirling skies. Viewers could see and feel the inner torment in the artist. With Gauguin, it's a much more investigative viewing. There is striking emotion, color, and strength in his work, but much of the power comes from understanding the people, places, and symbols involved. While the impressionists painted landscapes and soaring cathedrals, Gauguin scoffed and thought the world needed meaning, mysticism and belief. He wanted to create something deeper than the picture on the canvas.

As a big fan of Gauguin, it's a shame he's been overshadowed so much by his on and off "friend." And while both artists deserve the fame and attention, one's persona managed to propel him to an unforeseen level, while the other, beloved by art history, has been somewhat thrown to the curb in the world of general knowledge. Take a look at Gauguin as so many others, including Van Gogh, have done and you'll find something a little more controlled, but just as vivid, mysterious, and enchanting as any artist before or since.


take a look at the article which sent me on this random Gauguin-athon
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42323166/ns/today-entertainment/