Posted
on June 7, 2014
Back
in the olden days, many people were born in a small town or growing
city, grew up there, took on an adult life and profession that was
almost identical to their parents, married and raised families in
that same town or city, and died there. Sure, some people traveled,
learned foreign languages, changed careers, and broke off on their
own unique path – but many, many people did not.
Paul
Gauguin was one of the few who did.
And
he started early! He moved from Europe to South America, and then
back again, as a child!
Gauguin
was born on this date in 1848 in Paris, France. His father was a
journalist but was from a family of French market gardeners and
greengrocers—the name Gauguin means walnut-grower—and his
mother was from a Peruvian family with a feminist and socialist
streak. When he was just one year old, the family left Paris to move
to Peru, but Gauguin's father died on the voyage. At age 18 months
old, Gauguin's family had shrunk to just him, his mother, and his
sister.
Paul
Gauguin lived for several years in Lima, Peru, with relatives. When
Gauguin was seven, the family returned to France, where little Paul
learned French and went to school. He served in the merchant marine
and the navy, and at 23 he became a successful Parisian stockbroker.
He developed a hobby, too: painting.
 |
| This 1888 painting is not as brightly colored as many of Gauguin's later works. |
When
he married a Danish woman and had five kids, Gauguin moved to
Copenhagen, Denmark, where he became a tarpaulin salesman.
But
he was driven to make art.
And
he didn't speak Danish.
And
he was not a success in the tarpaulin biz.
Gauguin's
marriage fell apart, and he moved back to Paris.
Gauguin
had an amazing life as an artist living in Paris. He made friends
with other artists, and he often painted with them. He visited an art
colony with his artist friends. He even lived with Vincent van Gogh
for nine weeks.
Still,
Gauguin continued to travel and live in exotic places. In 1887, he visited
Panama and then lived for a while in Martinique. He moved back to France for a while longer but then, in 1891, Gauguin sailed to
French Polynesia: Tahiti, Hiva Oa Island, Punaauia, and Marquesas
Island, where he eventually died.
After serving in the armed forces and being a stockbroker and tarpaulin salesman, Gauguin became a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer.
And after living in Peru and France and Denmark, he lived on islands in the Caribbean and in the South Pacific.
What
a life, huh?
Also
on this date:
Plan
ahead:
Check
out my Pinterest boards for:
And
here are my Pinterest boards for:
No comments:
Post a Comment