Two Breton Figures; Bridge at Pont-Aven [recto]

"Two Breton Figures; Bridge at Pont-Aven [recto]" by Paul Gauguin is a significant drawing created during the crucial transition years of 1884 to 1888. Executed meticulously in crayon on wove paper, this work captures a characteristic scene from Brittany, the region of France where Gauguin retreated to establish the foundational principles of his Post-Impressionist style. The composition focuses on two figures in traditional Breton attire, situated near the distinctive architectural structure of the bridge at Pont-Aven.

This piece, classified simply as a Drawing, offers direct insight into Gauguin's method, revealing his early attempts at simplifying form and emphasizing line work over the atmospheric effects favored by the Impressionists. Created during the period spanning 1876 to 1900, the work reflects the artist’s growing interest in rural life, spirituality, and non-classical subject matter—themes that dominated the French avant-garde as the nineteenth century concluded. Pont-Aven became the center of this cultural shift, fostering the development of Synthetism, a style that prioritized emotional and symbolic content over naturalistic representation.

While the drawing itself maintains a certain descriptive realism appropriate for an initial study, the defined outlines and focused depiction of local customs foreshadow the more graphic and symbolic works Gauguin would create shortly thereafter. The very classification of the drawing as recto suggests its importance as a primary visual record, possibly related to subsequent oil paintings or prints. This essential French artwork is held within the esteemed permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its historical significance, the original work is carefully preserved, though high-quality prints and digital assets are often made available through public domain initiatives for study and reference.