Five Sheep; Head of a Woman and Head of a Bearded Man [recto]

Five Sheep; Head of a Woman and Head of a Bearded Man [recto] by Paul Gauguin is a significant preparatory drawing executed in the mid-1880s, dating specifically to the crucial period between 1884 and 1888. This work provides insight into the rigorous draftsmanship underlying Gauguin’s pivotal transition from Impressionist influence toward the Symbolist and Primitivist modes that defined his later career. As a major figure in French Post-Impressionism, the artist was active during the influential period spanning 1876 to 1900, when European art was shifting dramatically away from naturalistic representation.

The drawing technique utilized here demonstrates Gauguin’s economical and deliberate use of line. The work combines two primary materials, employing pen and brown ink alongside graphite applied directly to wove paper. This medium choice allows for precise articulation of form and texture, particularly evident in the depiction of the five sheep clustered together, which were likely sketched directly from life. The composition is fragmented, combining these animal studies with two distinct human heads—the head of a woman and the head of a bearded man—suggesting the page functioned as a working surface for capturing spontaneous observations or preliminary concepts for figure arrangements.

The diverse subject matter on this sheet highlights Gauguin’s foundational skill in both observational animal drawing and portraiture studies. The inclusion of the figure sketches reveals his attention to classical portrait elements even as his overall artistic vision was beginning to prioritize emotional and symbolic resonance over strict realism. Gauguin's continued practice of drawing during this time helped solidify the powerful contours and decorative arrangements that would characterize his masterpieces. This invaluable sheet remains an important artifact detailing the development of the artist’s hand and is housed within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art.