Artwork
Landscape with Two Breton Women
Landscape with Two Breton Women is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1895, this oil painting by Paul Gauguin presents a quiet rural tableau from Brittany. Two women in traditional regional attire sit beneath a tree, accompanied by a resting sheep, while a vivid landscape of yellow, green and red fields unfolds behind them. The work belongs to the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on everyday life in the Breton countryside, emphasizing the modest attire and posture of the women. Their relaxed poses and the presence of the sheep suggest a moment of rest and contemplation within a pastoral setting, reflecting Gauguin’s interest in regional customs and the simplicity of rural existence.
Technique & Style
Gauguin employs a thick, impasto application of paint, allowing brushstrokes to remain visible and giving the surface a tactile quality. The palette is bold, with contrasting hues of bright yellow, deep greens and striking reds that heighten the visual impact and underscore the artist’s post‑Impressionist inclination toward expressive color.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces a typical path for Gauguin’s late works, moving from European owners to an American institutional setting.
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.
