"IN 1888 PAUL GAUGUIN CAME TO LIVE IN BRITTANY WHERE IN THE SAME YEAR HE PAINTED JACOB'S STRUGGLE WITH THE ANGEL. EVER ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PLACES WHERE HE ASSUMED THE COST OF LIVING TO BE NO MORE THAN ANKLE DEEP, HE SET OUT FOR PONT AVEN WHERE HE HAD BEEN TOLD MARIE-JEANNE GLOANEC, WHO KEPT AN INN THERE, WAS LIABLE TO EXTEND CREDIT TO ARTISTS." HIS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES ASIDE, "WE HAVE BEGUN TO SEE WHAT WAS DRIVING GAUGUIN, AND IT MAY NOT BE FORTUITOUS THAT THE SCENE HE CHOSE TO DEPICT ON THAT VERMILLION GROUND SHOULD HAVE BEEN JABOB'S STRUGGLE WITH THE ANGEL OR, ONE MIGHT EVEN SUPPOSE, GAUGUIN'S OWN PASSIONATE STRUGGLE AND ALL-DEVOURING DEMON."
(PAUL GAUGUIN, M.GIBSON) |
