View of Pont-Aven from Lezaven 1888

Editor: So, here we have Gauguin’s “View of Pont-Aven from Lezaven,” painted in 1888 using oil paints. The landscape feels… almost dreamlike, with those vivid colors. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The Pont-Aven school marks a fascinating point in the politicization of artistic movements. Gauguin sought a raw, unsullied artistic vision, which was inherently a rejection of academic painting, and the bourgeoisie who upheld it. How does this seemingly innocent landscape serve that purpose? Editor: Hmm, so it's not just about capturing a pretty scene? Is it more about rejecting the established art world? Curator: Exactly! Consider the socio-political climate of 1888 France. The artistic establishment was seen as tied to conservative values. Gauguin, like many post-Impressionists, uses simplified forms, bold colors and rejection of realism to create work free of tradition. Where would such tradition come from? Think about state sponsored museums of the time, which are shaping what art is allowed to be seen and sold, thereby making the state complicit. Editor: I see… So his stylistic choices are a deliberate statement against the art that was being promoted by, like, official institutions? It seems he wanted to be far from this, immersed in his freedom! Curator: Precisely. The primitivism he embraced and the rejection of a photo-realistic image allowed him to create, theoretically, beyond the expectations of traditional society, as reflected by public approval via art galleries, museums, and academia. By challenging their notions of beauty and skill, he was subverting a system. What is beautiful and who says it is? Editor: Wow, I hadn't thought about it that way. It's like the painting itself becomes a political act. Thanks for shedding a new light on it. Curator: My pleasure. Considering the context shifts how we perceive such a painting! It isn't only trees and rocks... but also resistance!