Gauguin -a new book about this artist and his time in Polynesia

 ‘ Gauguin and Polynesia ‘ by Nicholas Thomas, 2024

This book is written by someone who knows Polynesia and has researched his subject.
He considers the usual things said of Gauguin as a person that are very critical of his character, and looks at his paintings in detail. There are good reproductions that enable the reader to also do this.

Nicholas Thomas warns against taking the Somerset Maugham book ‘The Moon  and Sixpence’ as giving us any truth about Gauguin although he inspired it.

The questions of Gauguin’s  exploitation of young girls as sexual partners and of how far he gave a nostalgic romanticised  view of a French colony are addressed seriously.
It made me consider that my first instinctive responses to the paintings as enjoyable were worth something.
It doesn’t make Gauguin into a saint but it helps to reassesss his attitudes and it’s a fascinating read.

There is a copy in Cornwall County library, otherwise it costs £40.