Two Breton Figures and Studies of Two Geese; Man Wearing Hat [verso]

Two Breton Figures and Studies of Two Geese; Man Wearing Hat [verso] by Paul Gauguin is an expressive study executed in crayon on wove paper, dating from the artist’s pivotal transitional period between 1884 and 1888. Classified as a drawing, the work provides direct insight into Gauguin's developing interest in the lives and traditional dress of the local inhabitants of Brittany, the region where he would soon forge the foundational principles of the Pont-Aven School.

The recto side of the paper features two figures, typical of the devout, costumed peasantry Gauguin often sketched, alongside quick, preparatory studies of two geese. The arrangement suggests the artist was investigating elements for a larger rural composition. Reflecting the practical economics of drawing, the verso contains a separate study: a depiction of a man wearing a hat, likely sketched quickly from life. This dual-sided approach showcases Gauguin’s commitment to capturing immediate impressions and refining human and animal forms using the quick, decisive lines afforded by the crayon medium.

Produced during the height of the Post-Impressionist movement (1876 to 1900), this piece documents the French master's move away from the light-driven concerns of Impressionism toward a more symbolic, structural representation of subject matter. The preparatory nature of the work reveals how Gauguin established the simplified, weighty outlines that would define his later Synthetist style.

This significant drawing resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it contributes to the institution’s comprehensive holdings of nineteenth-century French drawing. As an historical artifact, the accessibility of high-quality prints and reproductions of the work is often supported by public domain initiatives, ensuring the technical investigations of Paul Gauguin remain available for scholarly study.