A Breton Woman and a Standing Man; Head and Hand of a Monkey [recto] 1884 - 1888

Paul Gauguin sketched this study of a Breton Woman and a Standing Man, alongside the Head and Hand of a Monkey, using graphite and colored pencil on paper. The strokes are light and quick, capturing the figures with just enough detail to suggest their forms and characters. Gauguin likely made this sketch *en plein air*, quickly capturing a scene from everyday life. The choice of graphite and colored pencil, portable and readily available, reflects a practical approach, valuing spontaneity over elaborate preparation. The sketch embodies a direct connection between the artist's hand, the fleeting moment, and the surface of the paper. The rawness of the lines and the unblended colors gives the scene a feeling of unmediated reality. The social context here is subtle but present. Gauguin's interest in the Breton people, their costumes and ways of life, reflects his broader fascination with cultures seemingly untouched by modernity. This kind of ethnographic interest, while artistically productive, often comes with the implication of cultural difference and hierarchy.