Maternity (Three Women on the Seashore) 1899

Paul Gauguin created "Maternity (Three Women on the Seashore)" using oil paint on canvas. Gauguin was a master of color, applying it in bold, flat areas. The materiality of oil paint—its viscosity, the way it catches light, the very stuff it is made of, helps us understand the social significance of the piece. Oil paints are a product of industrialization. Pigments had to be refined, oil extracted, canvas woven and primed – all requiring labor. The intense colors and simplified forms reference non-Western artistic traditions. Gauguin was inspired by the cultures of French Polynesia, where he spent a significant portion of his life. He aimed to capture the essence of a simpler, less industrialized way of life, as well as challenge the Western artistic establishment. Yet, the colonial context in which these works were produced is hard to ignore. Looking at the making of this painting allows us to consider not only its aesthetic qualities but also its ties to broader historical and social issues.