Important French post-Impressionist painter (1848–1903) recognized for his experimental use of color and synthetist style. In 1891, he traveled to Tahiti, where the brilliant hues and primitive sculpture closely complemented his own art, which was marked by strong colors, few lines, and flat patterns. ALS in French, signed "Paul Gauguin," two pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7, no date. Handwritten letter to Emile Schuffenecker, thanking him for making travel arrangements. In part (translated): "Thank you very much for your letter and for sending it. I just wrote Bernard about my desire to leave for Paris; thus, your offer to send me on the trip comes just at the right time and I happily accept it. Moreover, I will organize to sell something in Paris, and therefore you will be reimbursed within short time, I believe. On the 4 or the 5 I will take the train. And if I don't make it to Tonkin I will try to work outside of painting for some time because it’s necessary to hold course. Or I will rather push the minister of finance to give me something in France. But I would have to be in Paris for that." Completely silked on the reverse and in very good to fine condition, with light foxing, toning, and a few small areas of repaired paper loss to edges.
A painter, art teacher, and collector—most notably one of Van Gogh’s earliest collectors—Schuffenecker was one of Gauguin’s closest friends, and an outspoken supporter of his artistic career. He was also responsible for proposing the important 1889 exhibition at the Volpini Gallery, which became a key moment in Gauguin’s career, expanding his influence on young painters.
Interestingly, the artist desired to go to Tonkin—now Vietnam—before settling on Tahiti, where he would execute his most famous works. Writes Alexandra Schwartz in 'What was Paul Gauguin Looking For?' (The New Yorker, July 11, 2025): 'Gauguin initially wanted to go to Tonkin—at the 1889 World’s Fair, he had been bowled over by an exhibit of Khmer art—but his application for a colonial job there was rejected. Next, he chose Madagascar. The friend supposed to accompany him, Émile Bernard, a disciple from Brittany, had come under the influence of [Pierre] Loti and insisted on Tahiti instead, though after their plans were made they had a falling-out. In the end, Gauguin auctioned off thirty of his paintings, made a brief trip to Copenhagen to bid goodbye to the family he had not seen in years, and left alone.'
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