Pair of Wooden Shoes (Sabots) [left]

Art Historical Context

In the late 1880s, Paul Gauguin, a pioneering Post-Impressionist artist, ventured beyond painting into sculpture during his time in Brittany, France. Created around 1889–1890, *Pair of Wooden Shoes (Sabots) [left]* captures the humble clogs worn by Breton peasants. Fashioned from polychromed oak—wood hand-carved and vividly painted—with leather straps and iron nails, this small sculpture (just 12.9 × 32.7 × 11.3 cm) transforms everyday footwear into a tactile work of art. Part of the Chester Dale Collection at the National Gallery of Art, it exemplifies Gauguin's fascination with folk traditions and rustic simplicity. Gauguin's Brittany period marked a shift toward Symbolism and Primitivism, where he drew inspiration from medieval wood carvings and peasant life, foreshadowing his later Oceanic explorations. The polychromy—layered colors on wood—evokes ancient religious sculptures, breathing life into the ordinary sabot. This piece, likely one half of a paired set, highlights his innovative use of mixed media, blending functionality with artistic expression. Though modest in scale, the sculpture reveals Gauguin's bold experimentation, elevating vernacular objects to reveal deeper cultural narratives. Visitors will appreciate its textured details, inviting a closer look at the artistry in the everyday.

About the Artist

Paul Gauguin · 1848–1903

Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was a French Post-Impressionist painter whose bold experiments with color, form, and subject matter made him one of the most influential figures in the transition from 19th-century art to modernism. His rejection of European civilization for the perceived authenticity of 'primitive' cultures established an archetype of artistic exile that continues to resonate. Gauguin's ...