Path down to the Aven 1888

Paul Gauguin’s “Path down to the Aven” employs a traditional medium: oil paint, applied to canvas with brushes. But look closely, and you'll see that he handles these materials in a far-from-traditional way. Gauguin has built this image with loose brushstrokes and vivid color, a technique known as Impressionism, but he takes it a step further. He's not just representing what he sees. He is instead exploring the inner life of the landscape, using materials to express feelings and emotions. The weight of the paint gives texture to the scene, while the color choices create atmosphere and depth, giving viewers a sense of entering the forest. He also applies an understanding of color theory and optics, putting complementary tones together to create a sense of vibrancy. Gauguin, like many artists of his era, was captivated by the idea of "primitive" cultures, seeing in them a direct connection to nature and feeling. Yet by using paint in a way that emphasizes his own hand and his own emotions, Gauguin elevates his craft above mere description. He asks us to consider the making of the painting as much as its subject matter.