Breton Boy Tending Geese; Cows and a Figure Leaning on a Ledge [verso]

The double-sided sheet, Breton Boy Tending Geese; Cows and a Figure Leaning on a Ledge [verso], created by Paul Gauguin between 1884 and 1888, is a significant example of his preparatory drawings from his formative years spent in Brittany. Executed primarily in crayon and graphite on wove paper, the artwork provides intimate studies of rural French life. The recto side depicts a young Breton boy supervising a flock of geese, a common agrarian scene captured with a focus on form and volume rather than the atmospheric concerns of Impressionism.

The reverse side, titled Cows and a Figure Leaning on a Ledge, utilizes overlapping media to explore alternative compositions. Gauguin's technique, combining sharp graphite lines with the softer texture of crayon, demonstrates his commitment to defining structure. This approach anticipates the flat planes and bold outlines that would become characteristic of his developed Synthetist style. This work belongs squarely within the crucial period spanning 1876 to 1900, chronicling the decisive years when the French artist was moving away from the mainstream toward a more symbolic and emotionally resonant form of expression.

While Gauguin achieved global fame for his later tropical canvases, these earlier drawings confirm his deep engagement with documenting the peasant life of the French countryside. This drawing is not merely a preliminary sketch but a complete study showcasing the artist’s assured skill as a draftsman and providing crucial insight into the evolution of his compositional methods. This important double-sided drawing resides in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. Depending on the museum's designation, high-quality prints derived from preparatory works such as this often enter the public domain, making them accessible resources for scholars and enthusiasts studying the development of modern art.