Boy's Face; Two Sheep [verso]

The dual-sided work, Boy's Face; Two Sheep [verso] by Paul Gauguin, dates from the transformative years of 1884-1888, a crucial time in the artist's progression toward Post-Impressionism. Executed on wove paper, the piece utilizes both pen and brown ink and graphite, highlighting Gauguin’s exploration of line and tonal depth even in rapid studies and intimate drawings. This period, spanning 1876 to 1900, encapsulates the dramatic shift within French art away from purely observational painting toward more subjective, Synthetist forms.

The recto features a focused study of a boy's face, rendered with characteristic immediacy, typical of an artist developing compositional ideas through quick sketches. The use of graphite provides subtle shading, while the ink defines the primary contours and outlines. Classified as a drawing, this piece underscores its function as an immediate record of visual study, showcasing Gauguin's dedication to draftsmanship even while his painting style was becoming increasingly abstracted. The classification provides essential context regarding the work’s creation outside of a formal studio painting setting.

The verso side, featuring two sheep, demonstrates Gauguin's continued interest in rural or animal subjects, which would later become integral elements in his celebrated compositions in Brittany. These preliminary sketches offer a valuable window into the foundation of the artist’s aesthetic vocabulary. As a pivotal figure in French culture during the late 19th century, Gauguin’s output often mixed everyday realism with nascent Symbolist impulses. Although better known for his paintings, his graphic work provides essential insight into the development of his later, highly stylized forms. This unique drawing is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its age and cultural significance, high-quality images and available prints of this work from the 1876 to 1900 period are often found through resources that feature art designated for the public domain.