Who painted Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto]?

Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto] was painted by Paul Gauguin in 1886.

Where can I see Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto]?

Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto]?

Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto] is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto]

Paul Gauguin , 1886

Three Studies of a Man Wearing a Hat [recto] is a crayon drawing by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1886 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Paul Gauguin executed this drawing in 1886, employing crayon on wove paper to render three studies of a man wearing a hat. The work belongs to his early mature period, when he was shifting from the fleeting effects of Impressionism toward a more deliberate, symbolic visual language.

Technique & Style

The piece is executed in crayon, a medium that allowed Gauguin to layer pigment and achieve a flat, matte surface characteristic of his Synthetist approach. By emphasizing bold outlines and simplified color fields, the drawing anticipates the graphic qualities he later explored in printmaking and woodcut.

Context

During the mid-1880s Gauguin was actively engaging with Post‑Impressionist ideas and the Symbolist movement, both of which encouraged a move away from naturalistic representation. This drawing reflects his interest in constructing compositions that convey mood and idea rather than merely recording visual reality.

Legacy

Although a modest study, the work illustrates the transitional phase that led Gauguin to develop the more iconic, stylized images for which he is later known. It provides insight into his experimental use of media and his evolving theoretical concerns about the relationship between form, color, and meaning.

Artist & collection

Artist

Paul Gauguin

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.