Artwork
Dramas of the Sea, Brittany (Les drames de la mer, Bretagne)
Dramas of the Sea, Brittany (Les drames de la mer, Bretagne) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1889, *Dramas of the Sea, Brittany* is a lithographic print by Paul Gauguin. Executed on a zinc plate and printed on paper that imitates Japanese washi, the work measures a modest size typical of the medium. It belongs to Gauguin’s series of images that explore the rugged coastal life of north‑western France, a subject he visited repeatedly during the late 1880s.
Subject & Meaning
One figure kneels, cradling a small child, while another stands with clasped hands, suggesting prayer or supplication.
The composition presents three figures cloaked in dark garments against a tumultuous seascape. One figure kneels, cradling a small child, while another stands with clasped hands, suggesting prayer or supplication. The storm‑laden sky and churning waves convey a sense of peril and collective vulnerability, echoing the title’s reference to maritime tragedy and the broader Symbolist interest in human drama within nature.
Technique & Style
Gauguin employed traditional lithography on a zinc matrix, a choice that allowed bold, gestural lines and stark contrasts. The print’s surface retains a sketch‑like quality, with jagged strokes that emphasize movement and atmosphere rather than precise detail. The use of imitation Japanese paper reflects the period’s fascination with Asian materials, adding a subtle texture that enhances the work’s tonal depth.
History & Provenance
The lithograph was produced during Gauguin’s Breton period, shortly before his departure for Tahiti. It formed part of a limited edition series intended for collectors interested in the artist’s experimental printmaking. While specific ownership records are sparse, the work has appeared in several exhibitions of Gauguin’s prints and is documented in catalogues raisonnés that trace its circulation among European and American collections.
Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (; French: ; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements.
