Group of Human Forms; A Man Seated [recto]

Group of Human Forms; A Man Seated [recto] is an important drawing created by Paul Gauguin between 1884 and 1888. Executed in crayon on wove paper, the artwork offers direct insight into the French artist’s intense study of the figure during a pivotal transitional phase of his career, just prior to his full embrace of Synthetism. The recto focuses specifically on human anatomy and posture, dominated by the firm outline of a seated man, accompanied by ancillary figures that demonstrate Gauguin’s process of compositional planning and observation.

Dating from the Period of 1876 to 1900, this piece reflects the Post-Impressionist master's move away from purely Impressionistic ideals toward a more structural and emotionally charged approach to drawing. Gauguin skillfully employed the crayon medium, leveraging its rich density to define volumetric form and contrast against the texture of the wove paper. The simplicity and economy of line necessary in this drawing classification reveal the foundational skills that underpinned his later, more complex canvases. The raw, immediate nature of the sketch captures the artistic energy prevalent in Paris during the mid-1880s, even as Gauguin began seeking new sources of inspiration outside the traditional Parisian art scene.

The meticulous preparation and study visible in this drawing underscore Gauguin’s persistent dedication to mastering the human form, a recurring motif throughout his oeuvre. As a significant example of his work from this highly productive era, this piece resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Artwork from this foundational period of modern art is increasingly studied, and pieces like this often enter the public domain over time, allowing high-quality fine art prints and digital reproductions to be widely accessible for educational and scholarly research.