Five Studies of Soldiers and a Woman's Face; Two Figures [recto]

Five Studies of Soldiers and a Woman's Face; Two Figures [recto] is a detailed drawing created by Paul Gauguin between 1884 and 1888. Executed in crayon on wove paper, the work showcases Gauguin's dedication to draftsmanship during a transitional phase in his career within the highly productive French art world of the late 19th century. This early study predates the artist's full commitment to the synthetic colors and flat planes that would define his mature Post-Impressionist and Symbolist style.

The composition functions as a sheet of preparatory observations rather than a finished narrative piece. The recto side contains multiple distinct sketches, reflecting the artist’s need to practice and document forms found in daily life. Gauguin focuses primarily on five different depictions of soldiers, likely drawn from life or based on contemporary military presence. Alongside these figures, Gauguin includes the concentrated study of a woman’s face, demonstrating his interest in capturing varied human physiognomy. The swift, confident use of crayon allows for bold line work and subtle tonal modeling, lending immediacy and energy to the individual studies. Gauguin’s choice of medium highlights the importance of drawing as a fundamental component of his artistic practice during this early period.

This piece is classified as a drawing and originates from the critical period of 1876 to 1900, when many traditional conventions of Western art were being radically challenged. Though the original artwork is a unique object carefully held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, its significance is widely recognized. As is common for major works of this era, detailed photographic representations of such studies are often made available, allowing scholars and enthusiasts access via public domain resources, sometimes resulting in high-quality prints for further artistic study.