Artwork

Volpini Suite: The Grasshoppers and the Ants (Les Cigales et les Fourmis)

Volpini Suite: The Grasshoppers and the Ants (Les Cigales et les Fourmis) is a print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1889, the work titled *Volpini Suite: The Grasshoppers and the Ants* is a zincograph print by Paul Gauguin. It belongs to a series of prints he produced during a period of intensive experimentation with relief printing techniques, alongside wood engravings and woodcuts.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents an allegorical tableau that alludes to the fable of the grasshoppers and the ants, a story traditionally contrasting idleness with industriousness. In Gauguin’s rendition, four figures—two women with pole‑borne containers, a crouching companion, and a nude child reaching outward—populate a stark, rocky terrain, suggesting a moral narrative through their poses and setting.

Technique & Style

Executed as a zincograph, the print showcases Gauguin’s Synthetist approach, characterized by flattened forms, bold outlines, and a limited palette of earthy browns and yellows. The method allowed for strong contrasts and simplified shapes, distancing the image from the fleeting brushwork of Impressionism and emphasizing symbolic content over naturalistic detail.

History & Provenance

The piece was produced for the Volpini exhibition, an alternative show organized by Gauguin and his circle in 1889 after the rejection of their work by the official Salon. The suite was circulated among collectors of the artist’s prints, though specific ownership records for this particular zincograph remain limited.

Context

At the time of its creation, Gauguin was aligning himself with Post‑Impressionist and Symbolist currents, seeking to convey ideas through color and form rather than direct observation. The choice of a fable reflects his interest in narrative symbolism, while the use of zincography demonstrates his willingness to explore new media beyond painting.

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.