The Field of Derout-Lollichon 1886

"The Field of Derout-Lollichon" is a landscape painting by Paul Gauguin, capturing a scene from the French countryside. Gauguin, like many artists of his time, turned to rural life seeking an escape from the industrialization of Paris. This painting embodies his search for authenticity and the "primitive." We see quaint cottages with thatched roofs, nestled into the rolling hills. The painting captures a specific cultural moment of idealizing rural, working-class life. However, it also romanticizes the lives of Breton peasants, obscuring the realities of their daily struggles. Though seemingly simple, Gauguin’s artistic choices, reflect the complex interplay between the artist's desires and the social realities he encountered, raising questions about representation and the gaze.