Manuscript Pages [verso]

Manuscript Pages [verso] is a seminal drawing by Paul Gauguin, created between 1884 and 1888. Classified simply as a drawing, this piece represents an intimate glimpse into the working process of the pioneering Post-Impressionist master. The work is distinct in its materiality and technique: it is executed using pen and brown ink on wove paper, signifying it as a page of informal notes rather than a formal, finished composition.

This specific manuscript stems from a crucial period in Gauguin’s artistic development, falling squarely within the influential timeframe of 1876 to 1900. During these years, the French artist began to crystallize the stylistic elements that would define his mature Symbolist output, moving away from Impressionist concerns toward a focus on symbolic form and expressive color. Unlike his later vibrant canvases, this sheet emphasizes linear precision and informational content. The utilization of pen and brown ink highlights Gauguin’s technical efficiency in quickly recording thoughts, mathematical calculations, or nascent visual ideas.

These informal studies, which often include textual annotations alongside preliminary sketches, reveal Gauguin's preoccupation with both theory and practical concerns before his decisive relocation to the South Seas. As an artifact documenting the artist's private study, the Manuscript Pages [verso] offers invaluable insight for scholars and admirers alike, allowing us to trace the origins of motifs later developed in his paintings and sculptures.

The sheet currently resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as an important primary document of Gauguin’s early career transition. Because of the enduring scholarly interest in this foundational period of French art history, preparatory works like this drawing are frequently studied, and high-quality prints are often made available through public domain initiatives globally, ensuring wide access to the master’s conceptual processes.