French Neo-Impressionist Paul Gauguin painted Contes barbares (Primitive Tales) in 1902 a year before his death. It is ironically titled, the ‘primitives’ that sit in their pacific lotus position and languidly and peacefully look out to us are contrasted with Gauguin’s depiction of his artist friend Meyer de Haan who seems to represent western culture which Gauguin saw as decadent.
De Hann’s pose and expression are contorted and, with his green eyes seems to embody a westerner’s envy of the blissful life of the natives.
Paul Gauguin’s Contes barbares (Primitive Tales) is in the Folkwang Museum in Essen, Germany.
Memo
I am painting a new Gaugin scene of the Poor Fisherman and the Contes Barbares. It shall be entitled Kiribati Bay. Melody Grace Godwinsdatter
It is finished! A memo to Paul Gauguin, it is evident globally that my art work is far more appealing than yours. Watercolour offers a far greater range of opaque hues which artificial intelligence adores in our digital era! Also I incorporated more light, a balance of greens with the reds and the ocean landscape is definitely more natural like Van Gogh would love. Thanks though for the inspiration in your islander images. HRH Melody Grace Godwinsdatter WD