Paul Gauguin: Paris, 1889
This landmark exhibition gathered about 100 paintings, works on paper, woodcarvings, and ceramics by Paul Gauguin and his contemporaries to explore how the artist created his signature style during the year 1889. Co-organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Paul Gauguin: Paris, 1889 re-created on a smaller scale the radical independent exhibition that Gauguin organized with his artistic disciples on the grounds of the 1889 Exposition Universelle—a display of about 100 paintings now recognized as the first Symbolist exhibition in Paris.
Paul Gauguin: Paris, 1889 also closely examined Gauguin's first set of prints, a portfolio of 11 zincographs printed on brilliant yellow paper. First on view at Monsieur Volpini's Café des Arts, this so-called Volpini Suite chronicled the artist's early career and travels to the exotic locales of Martinique, Brittany, and Arles. The exhibition documented the development of familiar motifs—such as the mourning Eve, the woman in the waves, and fruit bearers—that would distinguish Gauguin's work for the rest of his career.
Paul Gauguin: Paris, 1889 was organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Van Gogh Museum. The exhibition was supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. The exhibition was made possible through major support provided by the Malcolm E. Kenney Special Exhibitions Endowment Fund. The supporting corporate sponsor of the exhibition was KeyBank. Additional support was provided by the Painting and Drawing Society of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this exhibition with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Online media sponsor cleveland.com.
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