Day of the God (Mahana No Atua)
12:00 AM |
| Paul Gauguin, Day of the God, 1893 |
The painting represents a universal religion, with the idol Hina centered in the middle. The images all derive from Gauguin’s personal experiences in Tahiti and culminate in the landscape. Along the pool’s edge are three women, each representing the “Ages of Man” which include birth, life, and death. The birth stage has the woman in fetal position with her toes barley grazing the water. While, the life stage include the woman sitting up straight and feet fully immersed into the water. Finally the death stage has the woman completely turned away from the viewer, and the source of life in the picture, which is water.
Gauguin doesn’t show the viewer the exact purpose of this painting instead he incorporates numerous symbols and meaning throughout. “Don't paint too much direct from nature. Art is an abstraction! Study nature then brood on it and treasure the creation which will result, which is the only way to ascend towards God - to create like our Divine Master” a quote by Gauguin illustrates that painting was a religious meditation and a way to navigate through the questions he had. He allows for the painting to mean what the viewer wants and doesn’t attempt to impose his own idea on religion and philosophy on the viewer.
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