Little Breton Boy; A Pig and a Washerwoman [recto]

Little Breton Boy; A Pig and a Washerwoman [recto] is a compelling drawing created by Paul Gauguin between 1884 and 1888. This piece, executed using crayon on wove paper, exemplifies the French artistic focus on rural life common during the period spanning 1876 to 1900. Classified specifically as a drawing, the work serves as a window into the evolving draftsmanship and subject interests that defined Gauguin’s transition from Impressionism into his mature Post-Impressionist style.

The composition captures intimate, working-class life in Brittany, a region Gauguin often visited seeking subjects free from the perceived corruption of modernity. The scene features three distinct elements: a young Breton boy, an animal (the pig), and a domestic laborer (the washerwoman). Gauguin’s interest lay in portraying the inherent simplicity and visual purity of these isolated communities. The medium of crayon allows for a direct, immediate, and energetic rendering of the figures, emphasizing form and volume over delicate color or atmospheric effects. This visual approach highlights the cultural significance Gauguin placed on the peasantry and their traditional way of life.

During the mid-1880s, Gauguin increasingly sought out subjects he deemed "primitive," documenting the inhabitants and landscape of Brittany as he built the visual inventory that would inform later, more symbolically complex works. This piece, Little Breton Boy; A Pig and a Washerwoman [recto], serves as vital documentation of the working methods and developing aesthetic of the artist prior to his departure for Tahiti. The drawing resides in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., contributing to the museum's comprehensive holdings of 19th-century French culture. As this historical artwork matures, high-quality digital prints of similar works often become available through public domain initiatives, ensuring broad accessibility to Gauguin’s significant oeuvre.