Wayside Shrine in Brittany (Le calvaire Breton)

Wayside Shrine in Brittany (Le calvaire Breton) by Paul Gauguin is a significant example of the artist's mature printmaking practice, executed as a woodcut on very thin Japan paper between 1898 and 1899. This French work, classified as a print, captures the somber, spiritual atmosphere of the late 19th century in the region of Brittany, a key geographical inspiration for Gauguin during the period spanning 1876 to 1900.

Gauguin returned to the woodcut medium late in his career, finding in the raw, simplified lines and inherent texture of the wood grain a powerful vehicle for his Symbolist ideas. This particular print exemplifies his fascination with the deeply ingrained Catholicism and ancient customs of the Breton people. The stark forms, typical of the calvaire (wayside shrine), are rendered with a deliberate crudeness that enhances the expressive quality of the scene, echoing the monumental stone carvings themselves. Unlike the smooth surfaces often favored in academic art, Gauguin embraced the rugged, almost primitive aesthetic achievable through the woodcut technique.

The technique involves carving the image into a block of wood, leaving the lines that will hold the ink raised. When printed, these lines produce a distinct, angular texture that contrasts sharply with the delicate nature of the Japan paper used here. Though the work was created while Gauguin was predominantly based in the South Pacific, the subject matter reflects his continued preoccupation with his earlier, formative experiences in Northern France. This print, illustrating a persistent theme of traditional religious devotion, stands as a crucial piece in understanding the transition from his Pont-Aven period to his later, more abstract compositions. This important print is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars a detailed look into Gauguin's innovative contributions to the development of modern printmaking.