Figure Studies; Studies of Soldiers [verso]

The work Figure Studies; Studies of Soldiers [verso] by Paul Gauguin is an important example of the artist’s preliminary draftsmanship from the pivotal years 1884-1888. Classified as a drawing, this piece utilizes crayon applied to wove paper. This period, roughly spanning 1876 to 1900, captures Gauguin during his rapid transition away from Impressionism toward his highly individualized Symbolist aesthetic. The title indicates the work's dual purpose, with studies of general figures on one side and sketches focused specifically on soldiers on the reverse, suggesting the artist utilized every surface available for practice.

Gauguin’s choice of medium, crayon on wove paper, highlights the drawing's function as a practical study rather than a final composition intended for exhibition. These preparatory sketches allowed the French artist to explore form, posture, and volume quickly and efficiently. The subject matter—ranging from basic anatomical observation to specific depictions of uniformed figures—reflects the academic necessity of mastering the human form, even as Gauguin was simultaneously beginning to reject traditional artistic structures. These types of intense observational drawings were fundamental to the development of his later, more simplified and expressive figures seen in his major paintings.

This significant early work provides essential insight into Gauguin's technical process just before his iconic travels. The drawing is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it contributes to the overall understanding of late 19th-century European drawing practices. While the original drawing remains preserved within the museum’s holdings, the accessibility of such masterpieces through the public domain ensures that art historians and students can study high-quality reproductions and prints, allowing for continued engagement with this crucial transitional phase in Gauguin’s prolific career.