Jean René Gauguin

Jean René Gauguin, executed in 1881 by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903, is an intimate and technically complex drawing that captures the artist’s young son. Classified firmly as a drawing, this early work showcases Gauguin’s proficiency with diverse materials long before he attained widespread fame for his Tahitian canvases. The creation employs a rich, layered technique, combining black fabricated chalk and red chalk with brush and brown wash, while intricate details are defined using pen and brown ink on cream wove paper. The inclusion of later additions in graphite indicates ongoing study or refinement of the composition.

Created in France, the piece dates to the period when Gauguin was still deeply engaged with traditional academic training and Parisian artistic circles, working alongside Impressionists and experimenting with domestic portraiture. The depiction of his son, Jean René, offers a rare, personal insight into the family life of the 1848-1903 master during this transitional phase. The thoughtful application of the mixed media, particularly the soft blending of the chalks contrasted with the decisive lines of the ink and wash, lends the subject a remarkable sense of dimensionality and sensitivity.

This significant drawing provides essential documentation of Gauguin's development as an artist prior to his symbolic breakthrough and subsequent move away from European civilization. It is an invaluable reference point for understanding the breadth of his skill across mediums. Jean René Gauguin is permanently held in the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, securing its availability for scholarly study and public appreciation of the foundational period of this seminal French artist.