Artwork
Still Life with Three Puppies
Still Life with Three Puppies is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1894, this oil painting presents a domestic tableau centered on three young dogs.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1894, this oil painting presents a domestic tableau centered on three young dogs. The animals cluster around a shallow bowl while a tabletop below displays an assortment of fruit and glassware rendered in bright hues. The composition balances the muted tones of the puppies with the vivid colors of the surrounding objects, generating a lively visual rhythm.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of playful interaction, with the puppies seemingly tugging at the bowl and investigating the nearby items. By juxtaposing the innocence of the animals with the still‑life elements, the artist invites contemplation of everyday vitality and the simple pleasures found within a modest interior setting.
Technique & Style
Executed with the bold, flat areas of color characteristic of Gauguin’s Synthetist approach, the painting employs decisive brushwork that emphasizes surface over detail. The palette combines earthy grays and browns for the dogs with saturated greens, yellows and reds for the fruit, producing a striking contrast that energizes the scene while maintaining a cohesive compositional balance.
History & Provenance
The canvas entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. As part of Gauguin’s broader output during his Post‑Impressionist period, the piece reflects his ongoing experiments with color and form that would later influence Symbolist and modernist currents.
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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.
