Human Misery, from the Volpini Suite: Dessins lithographiques

Human Misery, from the Volpini Suite: Dessins lithographiques by Paul Gauguin, created in 1889, is a significant print held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artwork employs the medium of zincograph, a planographic printing method similar to lithography, executed on delicate simili-Japan paper. This specific impression is cataloged as a second edition, demonstrating the early circulation of Gauguin's radical ideas through graphic media.

The print belongs to the important Dessins lithographiques or Volpini Suite, a series Gauguin produced for an independent exhibition in 1889 while attempting to distance himself professionally from the established Impressionists. The subject matter directly addresses the titular theme, focusing intensely on generalized states of suffering and existential sorrow. Gauguin utilizes stark, simplified lines typical of his nascent Symbolist and Synthetist style to depict the gaunt faces of Men and Women.

Unlike academic compositions, the figures are isolated and psychologically charged. The composition often features abstract or stylized forms, sometimes incorporating minimal outlines of Trees, which serve not as setting, but as symbolic elements emphasizing the isolation of the figures. Gauguin’s approach here elevates the raw emotion expressed through the faces and postures, prioritizing subjective feeling over realistic detail.

This suite of prints marked a critical moment in Gauguin's career, allowing him to explore narrative intensity and bold graphic contrast before his definitive move to Tahiti. The decision to produce these works as prints facilitated the dissemination of his post-Impressionist aesthetic, establishing his influential role in the move toward modern art.