The Yellow Christ
Paul Gauguin · 1889
Why it's great
Women in Breton costumes kneel around a bright yellow crucifix in a golden autumn field. Gauguin was inspired by a wooden carving in a village chapel in Brittany, France. He used flat, bold colors and dark outlines instead of realistic shading. It's a landmark of Synthetism, a style that favored feeling and symbol over copying the world.
Where to see it
📍 Buffalo AKG Art MuseumBuffalo, United States
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Paul Gauguin was born in Paris and spent part of childhood in Peru. He worked as a stockbroker before turning to painting full-time. He lived in Brittany, in Arles with Van Gogh, and then in Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific, seeking a simpler life. His flat, vivid colors influenced Picasso and Matisse.
