Three Studies of a Pig; Breton Boy Walking with a Jug [recto]

The drawing Three Studies of a Pig; Breton Boy Walking with a Jug [recto] by Paul Gauguin offers vital insight into the French artist’s working practice during a transitional phase spanning 1884 to 1888. Executed in crayon and graphite on wove paper, the drawing showcases Gauguin’s focus on capturing everyday rural subjects through precise linear studies, a necessary step in his move toward synthesizing form and feeling in his later Symbolist works.

The recto side of the sheet features two distinct subject groups. Multiple quick studies of a pig dominate one section, rendered perhaps to capture animal anatomy or movement, suggesting preparatory work for a larger canvas depicting farm life. Contrasting these rapid animal observations is the more carefully delineated study of a Breton boy walking, who shoulders a large jug. This figure exemplifies Gauguin's profound interest in the distinct culture and traditional dress found in the Brittany region, which served as a major source of inspiration for him during this era.

The period from 1876 to 1900 was defining for Gauguin, marking his crucial break from Impressionism and the development of his post-Impressionist style. These preparatory drawings highlight the technical foundations of his art. He relied on the delicate combination of graphite and the deeper tonality of crayon to achieve varying degrees of shade and volume, demonstrating his technical fluency before he embraced bolder, flatter fields of color.

This foundational piece of French drawing is held in the extensive collection of the National Gallery of Art. The drawing provides scholars and the public with a tangible link to Gauguin’s process during the late 1880s. Its status as a widely recognized work means high-quality prints and reproductions are available, allowing for detailed study of the drawing methodology Gauguin utilized before departing for his more exotic locales.