Comparative Study Between

Paul Gauguin & Gerald Lovell

Briana Hernandez

This comparative study will center upon the works Tahitian Woman on the
Beach 1891 and Are You Jealous 1892 of French Post-impressionist artist Paul
Gauguin Tahitian Woman on the Beach 1891 along with Yahteer Drayton 2018
by contemporary Atlanta painter Gerald Lovell. This will include a meticulous
analysis of the cultural context, formal qualities and intent of their work
while also comparing and contrasting all three along with my own.
Evaluation of cultural significance: Gauguin
Paul Gauguin was French 19th century painter that after growing tired of artificial
western art and was gaining a primitive style, he traveled to Tahiti. He planned to
use what he thought would be their savage and exotic culture as inspiration,
however upon arriving he realized that his expectations were not illustrated.
Despite not seeing what he had anticipated he continued to exoticsize its
landscapes and people and using religious symbolism within his artwork.

Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the

Gauguin, Paul. Are You Jealous?1892,
Pushkin Museum, Moscow.
Beach. 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Gauguin visualized the area as dreamy and tranquil and thought of it as an ideal
place to assimilate nature in its most tropical setting and procure spiritual
fulfillment. To him the culture of Tahiti was the epitome of primitive and a
harmonious state that he had conceptualized. He focused on what he believed
were the most authentic facets of the tahitian culture that were not engrossed by
the corruption of french colonialism.
Analysis of formal qualities: Tahitian Women on the Beach
The background includes dark
and muted colors to refrain from
capturing the attention from the
foreground.
Color is used in high intensity,
specifically the bright red and
pink, in the foreground in order to
establish emphasis on women to
focus on their calm states. It is
also used to emphasis the
traditional garment to point out
their primitive and cultural
aspects.
Bold dark lines are used to
outline the entirety of the girls
and it serves to flatten the image
to develop the dreamy and exotic
appearance that Gauguin
visualized Tahiti to be
Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891,
Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Gauguin leaned towards a
synthesist style and here he
primarily uses warm colors to
create harmony and to create
a tranquil and pleasant mood.
Movement is subtly used in a
U from through the composition
by having the upper body of the
woman on the right leading the
eye downwards while her
crossed legs lead the eye to the
left and towards the woman on
the right. This transition has the
eye move from the red skirt and
upwards towards the face of
the woman on the left.
Interpretation of function, purpose & significance:
Tahitian Women on the Beach
In Tahitian Women on the Beach Gauguin wanted to portray the way that the
exotic nature of Tahiti was an excellent paradise for contemplation and serenity

The painting only includes the

women and nature and the The expression on the
relaxed poses along with the woman on the left replicates
warm colors used in the sand one of thought while the
illustrate the relationship expression of the woman on
between the two. This the right appears at peace.
relationship being depicted as These expressions allow the
calm in response to nature. interpretation that in a time of
contemplation and peace,
where they are is the
optimum setting

Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891,

Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
 Analysis of formal qualities: Are You Jealous?
The lack of value in the nature
aspect of the painting and the
bold lines on the women work
to flatten the image making it
appear unrealistic to add to the
exotic and dreamy sense
The use of warm colors
among the women is to
enhance the exotic sense that
Gauguin tends to put on his
tahitian subjects. This is also
applied around the figures to
show the appreciation and
closeness between man and
nature as Gauguin depicts
nature in soft and calming
colors
Gauguin, Paul. Are You Jealous?1892, Pushkin Asymmetrical balance is
Museum, Moscow. used by having the first
woman centered and having
aspects of nature in the left
corner balance out the
women laying down on the
right. This also creates
space and together they add
on to the unity as it does not
feel crowded and overall
gives a tranquil sense
Harmony is set though
Gauguin's choice color
palette. This is to have the
dreamy and exotic outlook
Movement is restricted with the still figures and that Gauguin visualized
the unmoving nature background in order to when he pictured Tahiti and
maintain the calm affect. to create a serene mood.
 Interpretation of function, purpose &
significance: Are You Jealous?
In Are You Jealous? Gauguin wanted to present that the exotic nature of Tahiti was an
superlative paradise for reflection and serenity.

According to Gauguin's journal

Noa Noa, he captured a moment
where two women after bathing
were conversing of their previous
night activities where one woman
asked the other, “are you
jealous?”. By capturing this
moment where they remain
relaxed and content he showed
the continued playfulness and
relish.

Gauguin, Paul. Are You Jealous?1892, Pushkin

Museum, Moscow.
Evaluation of cultural significance: Gerald Lovell
Gerald Lovell is originally from chicago and moved to lithonia, Georgia at 16
where is artistic passion was beginning to enter its prime and is now majorly
exhibiting in Atlanta georgia. Having support from his mother and aunt who
would often gift him supplies and support from his classmates who would have
playful art competition led to him holding these encouraging figures close to his
heart and would later poraty in his artwork. From Chicago to Lithonia to Atlanta,
Lovell was exposed to clear aspects of pop culture in which he noticed its art
often included significant people to that scene. Pop culture is something that he
tends to contrast but in small correlation, he began painting people that were
important to him. As his notices that he lives within the era of pop culture Lovell
contrasts the norms of it in his own subtle ways.

Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The

Gallery by Wish, Atlanta.
 Analysis of formal qualities: Yahteer Drayton
Texture is used on the face of the
figure through the impasto style to
create emphasis on the individuality
of the person. Lovell tended to paint
the people most important to him and
his interaction to the image depicts
his reaction thus he used meticulous
application on them.
Space is seen majorly around the
figure to prevent a crowd forming
around the figure and to keep the
emphasis and the focus of the viewer
on the figure
The use of texture also serves to
create depth and form to pop out to
the viewer creating an intimate and
up close interaction between the
audience and the painting.
There is a lack of movement due to
Lovells preference to paint as a
documentor. Here he capture an
ordinary moment of a person looking
up from his phone giving the painting
a more realistic approach and
excluding fiction and script.
Lovell uses color to create emphasis
by using brighter colors that stand
out against the muted colors in the
rest of the painting. This allows the
addition of the connection to pop
culture
Although Lovell paints moments as
they are he tends to use muted
colors as to not take away from the
emphasis created through the
textures features and pop culture
Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The
references.
Gallery by Wish, Atlanta.
 Analysis of formal qualities: Yahteer Drayton
Having ordinary aspects in the
background such as the paintings
resting against the walls and the
figure seemingly looking up from
their phone gives the piece unity as
they all together make the image
appear natural and in an in the The lack of movement also serves to
moment setting. This allows the enhance the idea of the figure looking
viewer to have further insight into the towards the viewer, allowing the
ordinary life of the person and the viewer to have a more intimate
perspective of the painter. moment to acknowledge the
significance of the person in the
painting
Balance is excluded as there is more
space to the right of the figure which
has the image appear natural and
unscripted. This adds on to Lovells
strive to paint as a documentor
Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The
Gallery by Wish, Atlanta.
Interpretation of function, purpose & significance:
Yahteer Drayton
In Yahteer Drayton, Lovell wanted to illustrates his own perspectives on people most most
important to him by showing the person in an unstaged normal moment in their lives

The opse of the person is fairly Lovells decision to use the impasto
relaxed and evidently unscripted. He style on only the face of the figure is
also seems to have just looked up a visual way for him to showcase the
from their phone in their hands. importance if that figure to him
Together these to components because he takes the most time and
inforce the idea of a documentation. care on his facial features

Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The Gallery by Wish, Atlanta.

Comparison of Formal Qualities: Line

Gauguin Lovell

● thick textured layers of oil paint

are piled onto each other for the
● both use wide visible purpose of emphasis
brushstrokes
● uses a bold line to outline the
entire figure to flatten the piece
which maintains the dream like
tone ● Textured brushstrokes to have
image come out to the viewer
● Flat even brushstrokes to keep image giving an intimate moment
flat between the audience and
painted figure

Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Gauguin, Paul. Are You Jealous?1892, Pushkin Museum, Moscow.
Comparison of Formal Qualities: Color

Gauguin Lovell

● choice of colors are used

for the purpose of the
artists preferred tone and
● paintings consists of warm colors to mood. ● Cool muted colors are in
insert content mood and mythical place because the thick
tone layers of paint are
● Muted colors that are intended to be the
close together are used primary focus and the
in order to keep harmony have a natural and
and cohesive mood and realistic appearance.
● Some skin and nature colors are tone
saturated d on skin tones to exoticize
the figures ● Skin tones replicate original skin
tones to keep realistic image
Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Gauguin, Paul. Are You Jealous?1892, Pushkin Museum, Moscow.
Comparison of Formal Qualities: Shape and texture

Gauguin Lovell

● value is used in shape which

● Value is lacked to flatten adds dimension to make figure
shape appear more realistic but is
filled dulled down due to visible
brushstrokes

● flat shapes are used to stray

away from realism while ● thick layers of oil paints create
establishing a dreamy tone. texture to inforce concept of
importance and bring emphasis
● rough texture through visible to faces.
canvas due to gauguin's
decision to thin out his paints
Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The Gallery by Wish, Atlanta.
Gauguin, Paul. Are You Jealous?1892, Pushkin Museum, Moscow.
Comparison of Formal Qualities: Balance & composition
Gauguin
● Gauguin uses
asymmetrical balance by
placing secondary
figures and aspects of ● Uses relaxed poses to have the
nature in the background
to balance out one
another. This balance is
to keep an appealing and ●
harmonizing setting
● Uses relaxed poses to enhance
tranquil mood considering that
Gauguin strives to explore the mythic
and calmness of Tahiti.
Lovell
in the moment sense. capture
the attention of the viewer
Both have their figures in
relaxed poses by having them
laying down or in a tension free ● lacks balance by only having
sitting position in order to keep background components crowd
their mood. one side to have the painting
● Places figures up appear natural and through the
close to allow an eye of the painter.
intimate moment
between the painted ● Uses relaxed poses to have the in the
figure and the moment sense.
viewer.
Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The Gallery by Wish, Atlanta.
Comparison of Formal Qualities: Culture and purpose
Gauguin
● Gauguin was surrounded by the
Tahitian culture in order to stray
away from western influence.
● Used natural and content mood to
show the feeling that comes from
exoticness of Tahiti
Lovell
● Purpose is to
illustrate a
content and
natural mood
● Lovell was influenced by
● Both were influenced by the modern culture
people around them and
focused their work on those
specific people such as how ● Despite sharing the same mood as
Lovell captures an ordinary Gauguin Lovell used the Calm and
moment of his subject while natural mood to show a normal moment
Gauguin captures the dreamy in the person's life
and exotic mood from his
subjects
Comparison of Formal qualities: Gauguin & personal

Gauguin Personal art

● Saturated skin tones ● In terms of color Consistent similar tones of

are used to express color are used all through the painting. These
skin tones and saturated and are warm tones
exotic tone that
to enforce content mood Bright warm colors
Gauguin visualized are used to have a content mood.
when imagining Tahiti
● Prominent value is ● shapes are flattened to insert dreamy and
ignored to flatten unrealistic appearance
shape and add to the
mythic appearance ● Bold line is used to outline the figure to
further flatten it and again to further allow the
mythic tone
Comparison of Function and purpose: Gauguin &
Personal
Gauguin traveled to Tahiti in hopes to witness a
primitive and exotic area that would complete
speedster itself and his artwork from western
influence. What he imagined and what he
experienced of Tahiti’s inhabitants and nature had
him develop the purpose for his paintings which
came to be to express the calm and exotic mood
that he gathers when it comes to Tahiti. He also
shows his glorifying tone towards the beauty of
Tahiti’s nature. Similarly The purpose of the
personal art is to show the content mood in what the
artist considers to be home, in this case home being
Mexico, while also showing the growth in terms of
understanding my own culture through a
glorification of nature by emphasizing on the calla
lilies as they are prominent flowers in Mexico and
symbolize growth and the mountain of San Jose in Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach.
Puebla, Mexico as it is a primary part of what the 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The
artist considers as home.
Gallery by Wish, Atlanta.
 Comparison of Formal Qualities: Lovell & personal

Lovell Personal art

● Similarities consist of Textured thick layers of
paint to capture the attention of the viewer

● The figures in both pieces are Centered to

assure that they are the first thing that are
seen while the composition of both figures
are relaxed an seemingly natural poses for
an in the moment shot

● Lack of balance is seen as only one side is

filled with other components to once again
have the image appear as a natural moment

● Visible brushstrokes are seen along with

thick layers of paint are applied to the faces
to create emphasis and establish an
importance of the facial expression
Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The Gallery
by Wish, Atlanta.
 Comparison of Function & purpose Lovell & personal

Gauguin Personal art

Lovell incorporates the purpose of illustrating the
importance the people he paints through his
painting technique. Similarity The personal piece
uses the same technique on the same area to
emphasis a content expression. Overall the purpose
of the piece is show a serene moment in an area
that the artist would consider home. What I wanted
to take away from the work of Gerald Lovell is that I
wanted to mimic his composition by having my focal
point be centered and up close. I also want to
replicate his technique by using the impasto
technique only on the skin of the figure while also
applying flat brush strokes to the background. I also
want to mimic his decision to keep a rather simple
and background that contains enough detail to
capture a narrative while the main subject takes up
most of the space.

Lovell, Gerald. Yahteer Drayton . 2018, The Gallery

by Wish, Atlanta.
Comparison between all pieces

In connection, all three incorporate a natural and

serene moment. They all also use visible
brushstrokes in purpose of having the image stick
out to the viewer while also eliminating the aspect of
realism. They all also placed their figures in a
natural and relaxed pose while also having similar
compositions by having the figures centered to
assure that they are the focal point of the piece.

Balance is in contrast between gauguin and lovell

and the personal work. Not only that but lovell and
the lovell inspired work contrast against Gauguin in
terms of the glorification of nature.

Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Gauguin, Paul. Tahitian Women on the Beach. 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Gauguin, Paul. Are You Jealous?1892, Pushkin Museum, Moscow.