Geese; Girls in Bonnets, Geese [recto]

The work titled Geese; Girls in Bonnets, Geese [recto] by Paul Gauguin, created during the years 1884-1888, offers a glimpse into the artist’s observational practice during a pivotal stage of his career. Executed simply in graphite on wove paper, this drawing is classified as a study, likely preparatory in nature or a documentation of daily scenes the French artist encountered. The composition focuses on two subjects: girls wearing bonnets, possibly peasant or village figures, interacting with a small flock of geese. Gauguin utilized the fine lines and varied pressure of the graphite pencil to define the shapes and implied movement of both the human and avian subjects.

This drawing falls squarely within the significant artistic period spanning 1876 to 1900, a time when Gauguin was actively moving away from the Impressionist group and developing the more structure-focused style that would define Post-Impressionism. Prior to his major expeditions to the Pacific, Gauguin often focused his attention on rural life in Brittany and other regions of France, using sketches like this one to build a repertoire of figures and poses that lent credibility to his later paintings. The simplicity of the technique underscores the artist’s emphasis on form and volumetric mass over color.

Although not as widely known as his oil paintings, preparatory drawings are critical for understanding the evolution of the master’s technique. This piece, along with countless other essential studies by Gauguin, is held within the collection of the National Gallery of Art, providing crucial research material for scholars. The existence of such works in institutional collections ensures their long-term preservation and study. High-quality prints of significant drawings from this period are often made accessible to the public, facilitating broader engagement with Gauguin’s foundational work and techniques.