The Siesta is an 1892 painting in the Post-Impressionist style by the leading French artist Paul Gauguin. This work is located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York.
Analysis of Gauguin’s The Siesta
Completed in 1892 during his stay in Tahiti, this painting is an example of Gauguin’s primitivist style, which was inspired by the art and culture of non-Western societies.
The painting is notable for its use of color, which is bold and unconventional. Gauguin used strong and contrasting colors, such as bright greens, oranges, and blues, to create a sense of energy and vitality. The composition is balanced and harmonious, with the figures and the landscape blending together in a seamless and organic way.
The Siesta reflects Gauguin’s fascination with the primitive cultures of the Pacific, which he saw as a source of artistic inspiration and spiritual renewal. The painting embodies his belief that art should be expressive and spontaneous, rather than bound by academic conventions.