Volpini Suite: Martinique Pastoral (Pastorales Martinique)

Volpini Suite: Martinique Pastoral (Pastorales Martinique) is a key zincograph created by Paul Gauguin in 1889. This rare print belongs to the influential Volpini Suite, a groundbreaking set of eleven experimental prints exhibited at the Café Volpini in Paris that same year. The exhibition was critical in establishing Gauguin's identity as a Post-Impressionist master transitioning toward Symbolism.

The zincograph technique, closely related to lithography, allowed Gauguin to quickly reproduce the flat, simplified forms, and dense patterning he developed following his impactful 1887 trip to Martinique. The work features local women amidst a lush, tropical setting, reflecting the artist's ongoing quest for an uncorrupted, "primitive" paradise outside of metropolitan France. This search for exoticism profoundly influenced the direction of modern art.

In Martinique Pastoral, Gauguin utilizes the inherent harsh contrast of the medium to emphasize strong outlines and broad areas of tone rather than delicate shading, an approach characteristic of Synthetism. The composition is highly stylized, presenting an idealized vision of everyday life in the French Caribbean. Gauguin's engagement with printmaking during this period was crucial, as it allowed him to circulate his radical aesthetic ideas to a wider audience. This print marks a transitional moment as Gauguin synthesized various influences into his mature style. Today, this important example of French printmaking resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As with many important prints from this period, high-resolution documentation is often made available, ensuring the legacy of Gauguin’s work remains accessible to the public domain.