Mother and Child (recto); Profile Bust of a Man (verso)

Mother and Child (recto); Profile Bust of a Man (verso) by Paul Gauguin is an important early work, classified as a Drawing, executed in black chalk between 1870 and 1879. This dual-sided sheet provides intimate insight into Gauguin's developing technical practice during his nascent artistic career in France. The recto features a sensitive study of the mother and child motif, rendered with delicate, observational chalk lines characteristic of preparatory or academic study. The technique reveals the artist’s focus on form and volume rather than the saturated color and symbolic depth that would later define his mature Post-Impressionist style.

The 1870s mark a period when Gauguin was still primarily working as a stockbroker while seriously engaging with painting and drawing, largely influenced by established French Impressionists and academic traditions. The subject matter of the Mother and Child (recto) reflects conventional themes, contrasting sharply with the exotic subjects he would later pursue in Brittany and Tahiti. The verso, featuring the Profile Bust of a Man, further exemplifies the artist’s commitment to mastering portraiture and draftsmanship fundamentals. Drawings such as this served as essential training, showcasing the formal rigor underlying his future innovations.

As a document of foundational skills, this piece stands as a crucial record of Gauguin's transition from amateur to professional artist. Although predating his revolutionary Symbolist canvases, the drawing offers a valuable look into the technical origins of a master. This significant example of early French draftsmanship is held within the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains available for scholarly study. The existence of high-quality art prints of these early drawings aids researchers in tracing the evolution of Gauguin’s hand.