Post-Impressionism

Much like technology, art is upgraded to new trends and new functions as time passes by. During the late 19^th century, impressionist artists dominated the art world. Their imagined and happy depiction of life came across as appealing to many, but some wanted to go even further in terms of artistic conventions. Paul Gauguin was a new breed of artist that was burgeoning in Europe. Called post-impressionist, these artists incorporated some artistic elements from the impressionist artists into their artwork, but further morphed the idea of painting. Gauguin’s painting, The Yellow Christ, is a good example of a post-impressionist painting. Through its different and similar characteristics of artistic elements, The Yellow Christ, according to Griselda Pollock’s formula, is considered ‘avant-garde’ work.

            Griselda Pollock uses a formula based on three rules for an artwork to be considered avant-garde. The rules are reference, deference, and difference. Based on these rules, The Yellow Christ can be considered avant-garde. The Yellow Christ uses reference by paying homage to the landscape paintings of the impressionist artists and to the Medieval European artists that depicted religious or spiritual scenes. Landscape is shown in the background of Christ, although it is not the focal point of the piece it is still engaging enough to refer to the landscape paintings of impressionist’s artists.

            Gauguin uses deference by showing an interest in light in color. The entirety of the painting is filled with vibrant and warm colors. Yellow, red, green, and blue, these colors create a lively and calming effect that creates a glowing rhythm of color. Gauguin also applies loose brushstrokes to create his piece, much like the impressionists painters. What sets him apart though, the ‘difference’, is that unlike the impressionists, Gauguin utilized color not as a tool to depict naturalness, but to evoke a more emotive feeling towards the piece. For example, Christ is depicted Yellow much like the landscape, I’m guessing because Gauguin wanted to symbolize Christ as nature, or specifically autumn, since it looks like it is fall. The landscape was just as important to the people as Christ was, so Gauguin wanted to portray the commitment the working class had to their religion as well as to their work. Another difference is the use of line, Impressionist painters had no real use of strong bold lines in their work. They preferred color to make up the shape of the figures and objects in the piece. Gauguin goes away from this convention to boldly outline all the figures in his painting including Christ. By outlining the figures, Gauguin focuses attention onto the figures. The landscape has little to no use of strong lines, so the figures in the foreground are the main attention of the piece. By doing this Gauguin goes away from impressionist artists. Instead of focusing on the celebration of the bourgeoisie and overall feeling of the piece, Gauguin is focusing on the lives of the working class. He wants the viewer to focus on the emotional feeling the female figures have towards their religion. The landscape is merely a additive that establishes the mood.

            Gauguin criticized impressionist painters for only painting what they wanted to paint. To have no sense of thought in the painting, Gauguin thought to be a useless painting. The Yellow Christ evokes thought because the subject matter is provocative, and the use of color combined with the subject matter makes a compelling piece.