Emil Gauguin as a Child, Right Hand Forward

Emil Gauguin as a Child, Right Hand Forward by Paul Gauguin is an intimate drawing executed in black crayon, dated to the period between 1875 and 1876. This early, foundational work provides a rare glimpse into the private life of the French artist, depicting his second son, Emil, born just a year or two prior. Created while Gauguin was still working as a stockbroker in Paris, the piece showcases an observational style rooted in the academic drawing practices he was absorbing during his formative artistic years.

The composition centers on the young child, whose small figure is quickly captured using assured lines and subtle tonal shading. Gauguin utilizes the black crayon medium to emphasize the child’s features and the notable forward movement of his right hand, a pose characteristic of domestic sketches. Unlike the flat planes of color and symbolic weight that define Gauguin's later, revolutionary Post-Impressionist paintings, this drawing relies purely on line and tone to define form and character, reflecting a commitment to naturalism.

Although simple in material, works like Emil Gauguin as a Child, Right Hand Forward are essential for charting the evolution of the artist’s aesthetic path from traditional draftsman to modern master. The drawing, a poignant record of domestic life in France during the beginnings of the Impressionist movement, belongs to the distinguished permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of its importance and age, high-quality prints and reproductions of this work are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, allowing wider access to this early example of Gauguin’s domestic output.