Still Life with a Fan 1889

Paul Gauguin made this still life painting with oil on canvas, and though the year is unknown, the overall stylistic elements suggest that it was probably created in France in the late 1880s. At this time, we see many artists rejecting the naturalism of academic painting in favor of a more symbolic, evocative mode. Gauguin here arranges everyday objects, like fruit, pottery, and a Japanese fan, to create a composition that rejects traditional perspective. It is interesting to consider how the institutions of art shaped Gauguin’s practice at this time. The emphasis on subjective experience and the incorporation of non-Western art forms reveals an avant-garde attitude that challenged conservative artistic norms. Art historians use sources such as letters and exhibition reviews to reconstruct the artistic debates of the time. Through this work, we can reflect on the power of art to challenge established social norms and propose alternative ways of seeing the world.