Gauguin 1886 Bouquet de fleurs d'été et sabots

Paul Gauguin did not lack confidence. “I am a great artist, and I know it,” he boasted in a letter in 1892 to his wife. A painter, sculptor, and writer, Gauguin stand today as one of the giants of Post-Impressionism and a pioneer of Modernism. He was also a great storyteller, creating narratives in every medium he touched. Some of his tales were true, others near-fabrications. Even the lush Tahitian masterpieces for which he is best known reflect an exotic paradise more imaginary than real.