Quarries at Pontoise 1882

Editor: Here we have "Quarries at Pontoise," an oil on canvas landscape painted in 1882 by Paul Gauguin. The subdued, almost muted color palette gives the whole piece a rather dreamlike, tranquil quality, don't you think? What stands out to you in this work? Curator: Oh, dreamlike is a perfect way to describe it! It feels like stumbling upon a secret world just beyond the edge of town. I think it's interesting to consider Gauguin's evolving relationship with Impressionism. Here, you can still see the influence—the plein air approach, capturing the fleeting moment—but he's already beginning to push against its boundaries. It is like he is asking the question: How can you paint truth as nature reveals itself. What he found was something that resonated. I'd challenge viewers to notice the almost geometric shapes used in the rockface - the color choice brings an incredible dimension. Editor: Geometric, yes! I hadn’t really noticed that, but now that you mention it, it really stands out. So it’s like he's using some Impressionistic techniques, but he's already got one foot in Post-Impressionism? Curator: Precisely. He’s starting to simplify forms and emphasize underlying structures. But what does it say to you? Is it simply just the aesthetic elements which evoke certain feelings within the observer? Does knowing his history, impact the interpretation in any meaningful way? Or can this be truly judged only in the present day? Editor: That’s a great question, and a hard one. I think understanding his evolution does add another layer of appreciation. For me at least. It’s not just a pretty landscape, it's a document of his artistic journey. It really makes you think. Curator: Yes, a journey! It’s a snapshot of Gauguin on the cusp of something entirely new, something wilder. That excites me. Editor: Absolutely, I will definitely be looking at more of his early work to spot those transitional elements! Thank you.