The Square Basket
- Original dimensions
- 73.5 x 61.5 cm
- Museum
- National Museum
- Year
- 1899
Scene depicted
In this canvas , Paul Gauguin presents a delicate and vibrant composition, where a basket of colorful fruits unfolds gracefully. The shades of fruity tones, vibrant and caressing, intertwine like an echo of the sensuality of nature itself. This pictorial work celebrates the richness of everyday life, a tribute to simple beauty, in an atmosphere imbued with warmth and harmony.
Historical context
Created in 1899, this painting is one of the jewels of the post-impressionist era, rooted in the rich artistic tradition of the late 19th century. Located in Paris, at the heart of a vibrant artistic movement, The Square Basket flourished at a time when Gauguin sought to transcend conventions to express deeper truths drawn from nature and intuition. Today, this work proudly resides in the National Museum, preserved in its intact integrity, at the generous size of 73.5 x 61.5 cm.
Place in the artist's career
The Square Basket represents a pivotal period in Gauguin's career, where his search for a new form of artistic expression asserts itself. Like Tahiti, the Green Sea and The Vision after the Sermon , this painting reveals his quest to distill reality through a vibrant palette, blending emotion and technique. Indeed, this painting illustrates his gradual departure from conventions to achieve a more personal and dreamlike vision.
Anecdote
“Painting is a poetry that is seen rather than a poetry that is read,” Gauguin said, recalling the inspiration that sprang from a quiet afternoon in Tahiti. That moment, when he captured the essence of the simplicity and beauty of flowers in his masterpiece , is now etched in history, linked to the profound inspiration that nourishes the painting of his canvas .