A Man Leaning on a Wall with Five Other Studies; Two Bearded Men Wearing Hats, and Five Other Studies [recto]

A Man Leaning on a Wall with Five Other Studies; Two Bearded Men Wearing Hats, and Five Other Studies [recto] by Paul Gauguin is a rich example of the artist’s exploratory draughtsmanship from the years 1884 to 1888. This dynamic French drawing, executed entirely in graphite on wove paper, captures the raw, functional nature of Gauguin’s artistic process during a pivotal moment in the late 1880s, when his style was transitioning away from Impressionism.

The sheet is densely packed with multiple independent figure studies, emphasizing the work’s function as a practice ground where fleeting ideas and observed poses were rapidly recorded. The primary focus, referenced in the title, is the figure of a man leaning casually against a structure, a pose utilized by Gauguin to study weight distribution and relaxed human posture. Alongside this are distinct portrait sketches, including the highly detailed renderings of two bearded men wearing hats. The variety of sketches, ranging from quick lines to more resolved forms, highlights Gauguin’s systematic approach to capturing subjects that would eventually populate his canvases.

Created within the period spanning 1876 to 1900, this work provides critical insight into the visual vocabulary the artist was developing just before his most radical stylistic breakthroughs. The medium of graphite underscores his urgency in documenting observations, crucial for an artist preparing to fundamentally shift his visual language toward Symbolism and Primitivism. Gauguin’s reliance on observational studies is clear, providing a necessary foundation for the more simplified, colored forms that would define his later career.

This important preparatory drawing is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it contributes significantly to the understanding of Gauguin's technical development prior to his major travels outside of Europe. Drawings such as this remain invaluable resources for scholars studying the working method of the post-Impressionist master. High-quality prints of significant drawings documenting this era are often made available through museum resources, allowing broader public access to the preparatory stages of French modern art.