Te burao (The Hibiscus Tree)

Te burao (The Hibiscus Tree) was painted by Paul Gauguin (French, 1848–1903) in 1892. This oil on canvas work marks a pivotal moment in the artist's career, coinciding with his first major residency in Tahiti. Produced during a deliberate self-exile from France, the painting exemplifies Gauguin's concerted shift away from traditional European Impressionism toward the simplified forms and intense, symbolic colors characteristic of his later Post-Impressionism style. The subject matter reflects his quest for a primitive, spiritual authenticity he felt was lost in the industrialized West.

As a leading figure of Post-Impressionism, Gauguin employs thick, deliberate brushstrokes and large, flattened fields of unmodulated color rather than the strictly naturalistic rendering typical of academic painting. The title references the burao, or hibiscus tree, which dominates the central composition with its broad leaves and striking textural detail. Gauguin utilizes strong contours to outline forms, blending Symbolist concepts with exotic subject matter. This innovative use of line and color to convey feeling and structure, rather than just observation, proved deeply influential on subsequent modern art movements in France and beyond.

The period of 1891-1893 was foundational for Gauguin, resulting in some of his most recognized pieces focusing on Tahitian environments and people. This specific piece, Te burao (The Hibiscus Tree), captures his intense fascination with the tropical, vibrant setting, integrating indigenous imagery into a modernist visual vocabulary. The work is classified as a painting and resides in the distinguished permanent collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a crucial example of French late 19th-century art. Due to its historical importance, prints and references to the work are widely accessible through various digital and public domain sources, ensuring the enduring scholarly legacy of this Post-Impressionism icon.