Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto]

Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto], created by Paul Gauguin between 1884 and 1888, is a significant example of the artist's preparatory drawing practice. Executed in crayon on wove paper, this classification offers a direct, unvarnished insight into Gauguin's evolving approach to figure studies during a pivotal time in his career. The work reflects the French artistic culture of the late 19th century, serving as a foundational step toward the Post-Impressionist movement that Gauguin would eventually spearhead.

The composition features three distinct depictions of a single male subject, each focusing intensely on the facial features and the specific profile created by the hat. These repetitions suggest that Gauguin was working through formal challenges related to capturing light, pose, and shadow, perhaps as a preliminary effort for a larger painting or a print series. The use of crayon allows for quick, decisive lines that capture the immediacy of observation, differing starkly from the layered technique required for his finished paintings. This practice of rapid study and formal analysis was vital among artists working during the period of 1876 to 1900, a time characterized by intensive experimentation across Impressionist and developing Symbolist circles.

Though Gauguin is often known for his highly stylized, vibrant canvases from his later years, this drawing reflects his earlier, more observational methodology while he was still primarily residing in France. The technique demonstrates his foundational draughtsmanship before his major transition into the use of non-naturalistic color and design in the 1890s. The work is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., preserving this crucial developmental phase. As a masterwork of French study, the image is frequently referenced in scholarly material, and high-quality prints of the drawing are now often available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread accessibility to Gauguin’s technical sketches.