Description
Paul Gauguin. Mata mua
Book Summary
This booklet offers a detailed approach to Paul Gauguin's work "Mata mua," contextualized within the framework of an exhibition organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. The reader will find a visual and documentary analysis that unravels the meanings, technique, and historical-artistic context of this emblematic painting, allowing for a deep understanding of this French Post-Impressionist masterpiece.
What is it about?
The booklet focuses on the monographic exhibition of the painting "Mata mua" (Tahitian for "Once upon a time"), one of the most representative works of Paul Gauguin's Polynesian period. Throughout its pages, it explores the iconography of the scene: a group of Tahitian women in an exotic landscape, surrounded by a mythical and spiritual atmosphere. It analyzes the symbolic elements, the use of color, and the composition that Gauguin employed to fuse observed reality with his imagination, creating an idealized and primitive vision of island life. The publication contextualizes the work within the artist's production and his search for an artistic purity far from Western civilization.
Main themes
- Iconographic analysis of "Mata mua" and its Tahitian symbolism.
- Historical and biographical context of Paul Gauguin during his stay in Tahiti.
- Study of the Post-Impressionist pictorial technique: color, composition, and brushwork.
- The representation of Polynesian culture and mythology in Western art.
- The concept of "primitivism" and the search for the exotic in late 19th-century painting.
Who is it recommended for?
This booklet is recommended for art history students, lovers of Post-Impressionist painting, collectors of exhibition catalogs, and anyone interested in delving into the work of Paul Gauguin and the symbolism present in his Tahitian production. It is also of interest to those who wish to understand the exhibition context and the relevance of a particular masterpiece.
What this book offers
- A focused and detailed analysis of a key work by Gauguin, difficult to find in general publications.
- Contextualized information about the exhibition that accompanied the painting, providing unique documentary value.
- A visual and textual guide to appreciating the symbolic and technical details of "Mata mua."
- A concise and accessible resource to complement studies or art exhibition visits.
Technical specifications
- Author: Paul Gauguin
- Publisher: Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. Area of
- Language: Spanish
- Collection: TBD. COLLECTION
- Publication date: January 1989
- Number of pages: 38
- Weight: 400 g
Editorial assessment
This is a specialized, limited-edition publication focused exclusively on a masterpiece by Paul Gauguin. Its value lies in the depth of the analysis and the exhibition context it documents, making it a useful reference material for researchers and art enthusiasts who seek an understanding beyond the superficial. It is a historical document in itself, as it reflects the institutional exhibition activity of the late 80s.