Ten Studies of Tahitian Figures

Ten Studies of Tahitian Figures by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903, is a pivotal drawing executed between 1891 and 1893, during the artist’s first self-imposed exile in the French colony of Tahiti. The work provides unique insight into the preparatory processes of the Post-Impressionist master. The medium consists of brush and brown inks, with evidence suggesting the inks were originally a more vibrant purple hue, supplemented by selective applications of watercolor on the parchment support. Gauguin frequently compiled multiple distinct sketches onto single sheets, creating visual inventories of figures, gestures, and atmospheric details that would later populate his large-scale oil compositions.

These ten studies capture various aspects of local life, focusing intensely on the facial features and bodily poses of Indigenous individuals. The expressive use of ink defines the figures with a powerful outline, reflecting Gauguin’s deliberate departure from European academic tradition towards a more simplified, symbolically charged aesthetic. The resulting drawing is a crucial document detailing the development of his signature style and his deep immersion in the visual culture of Tahiti, a subject that dominated his output during this highly productive period.

This significant drawing underscores Gauguin’s methodology of continuous observation and abstraction. The work is held in the renowned collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a central example of Symbolist drawing. As a key piece documenting the artist’s time away from France, its influence continues today, often appearing in publications and digital collections that make high-quality images of such historically important artwork available, frequently through public domain resources.