Bust of a Young Breton Woman (Possibly Marie Lagadu) 1886 - 1888

Paul Gauguin made this drawing of a young Breton woman, possibly Marie Lagadu, using graphite on paper. The grainy texture of the paper is intrinsic to the appearance of the artwork, giving it a rough quality. Gauguin built up the image through a network of tiny marks, a laborious process. These marks are not dissimilar to the kinds of stitches used in weaving – a traditional Breton craft. The density of marks is telling. Gauguin chose to focus on the face and the hat, with its complex folds. But his economic use of line elsewhere suggests less interest in the sitter’s torso, or the background. It's tempting to see a parallel between the artist's close study of the young woman's features, and the labor involved in more 'humble' practices. Gauguin seems to be emphasizing the dignity and individuality of his sitter. A sketch like this is a reminder that all making, even the most everyday, involves skill and close attention.