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Meyer de Haan (Under the Lamp)
- Original dimensions
- 51.7 x 79.6 cm
- Museum
- Museum of Modern Art
- Year
- 1889
Scene depicted
The painting Meyer de Haan (Sous la lampe) depicts a scene where the warm light of a lamp illuminates a moment of intimate thought. One perceives the softness of a face, the depth of a warm atmosphere. The viewer is invited to enter this delicate space where each element seems to vibrate to the rhythm of suspended thoughts.
Historical context
Created in 1889, the masterpiece Meyer de Haan (Sous la lampe) by Paul Gauguin is a striking reflection of the emerging expressionism at the end of the 19th century. Painted in Paris, this iconic work perfectly fits into the post-impressionist movement that aims to liberate color and form from literal representation. Today, this painting reigns at the Museum of Modern Art, displaying generous dimensions that allow its emotional power to shine.
Place in the artist's career
This masterpiece represents a pivotal phase in Gauguin's career, symbolizing a transition to bolder techniques that would be fully developed in his subsequent works like Vision of Beauty and The Yellow Christ . The painting reveals marked influences from symbolism and an empathy for delicate subjects.
Anecdote
“Every painting I create is a part of my soul,” Gauguin reportedly said one sunny morning as he contemplated the intimate scene that would become the canvas under the lamp's light. This moment of inspiration, imbued with serenity, drove him to immortalize the life around him with such depth.