Paul Gauguin: An Erotic Life

by Nancy Mowll Mathews

In this penetrating and daring biography of Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), Nancy Mowll Mathews traces the themes of sex and violence through the artist's life, from the near-murderous quarrels of his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300091095
• ISBN13: 9780300091090
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 2.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Fresh approach

This book, in its calm, even-handed way, manages to make Paul Gauguin come to life for the first time. Rather than rehash the myths about this man (which, Mathews demonstrates, were started by Gauguin himself), the author goes directly to the primary sources to trace his life and understand his character. It turns out that he did beat his wife and leave her and their five children without financial support. And he treated most of his friends and colleagues with equal heartlessness. But the story does not end there. It goes on to show how even out of such a flawed character great art could arise. This book teaches much about the unpredictability of creative talent.