Paul Gauguin: An Erotic Life

Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism

Paul Gauguin: An Erotic Life Details

From Publishers Weekly Mathews (Mary Cassatt), curator of the Williams College Museum of Art, has organized notable exhibits of American painting. Given the plethora of titles about the 19th-century French painter Gauguin, a flashy subtitle may have been thought necessary for this new book. Yet Mathews has serious art historical chops and, through 14 chapters, constructs a well-researched narrative about the painter's trajectory, with titles like "Theo and Vincent: Flying Too Close to the Sun." Noting how "central" "sex and violence" were to Gauguin, the author gets a little hung up with her own self-definitions, terming her method "a mixture of pre-Freudian vernacular psychology and postmodern pluralism," adding that she has used "the same commonsense approach" as in her other books. Unable to draw specific conclusions about the painter's personal behavior in bed (gay, straight or otherwise), the author analyzes paintings confusingly, e.g., Young Bretons Bathing, an image of naked boys, is likened to Japanese prints of "courtesans," which it does not resemble. If the focus is fuzzy on some details, and descriptions of individual artworks imprecise, a strong grasp of the basic facts of the artist's life make this a worthwhile title even in a strongly competitive field. (Nov.) Forecast: For gender and erotic issues, Stephen Eisenman's pioneering Gauguin's Skirt (Thames & Hudson) is vastly preferable, but Mathews's book will appeal to readers in search of a serious narrative, apart from those roped in by the suggestive subtitle, who might feel suckered by the scant thrills inside. The book is not directly related to the Art Institute exhibit, but will certainly be on sale in the gift shop there. University libraries are a lock.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Read more Review "A detailed, well-documented, and readable biography." -- Belinda Thomson, author of Gauguin and Gauguin by Himself"Mathews has serious art historical chops and, through 14 chapters, constructs a well-researched narrative about the painter's trajectory." -- Publisher's Weekly[This] book. . .serves as a specific case study of the extremes. . .that frequently rule the interior landscapes of creative overachievers. -- Roberta Smith, New York Times Book Review Read more About the Author Nancy Mowll Mathews is Eugénie Prendergast Curator at the Williams College Museum of Art. She is the author of numerous books and has organized several major exhibitions on Impressionist and post-Impressionist art, including Mary Cassatt: A Life, published by Yale University Press. Read more

Reviews

Well researched and fascinating account of Gauguin.. I had read this book before I purchased a copy on Amazon for a friend, and read some of the reviews here.. I am no historian, but I disagree w/ one reviewer's contention that the author has a point of view and ignores other evidence.. This account rings true to me..but even if it is biased it is well worth your time to gather this perspective...and a refreshing change from the usual romanticization of his life..

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