From a graphic novel series about famous artists. I might look for more of them. This was pretty interesting. It reminded me a lot of The Moon and Sixpence, being also about the life of Paul Gaugin. Though of course, the other was fictionalized. There was much familiar here- Guagin’s sudden passion for art which he began doing full-time later in life. His apparent disregard for other people’s feelings- particularly his wife and children. He was a stockbroker before suddenly turning to art. Moved to France and showed alongside the impressionists, and felt strongly rejected. Decided bitterly to ditch it all, leave the annoyances and strictures of “filthy lucre” and society behind, and go live somewhere simpler.
Tahiti. He stayed in a hut among the natives, struggling to live at first because he didn’t have the skills of fishing and hunting they subsisted on. He wandered the hillsides, places the locals shunned because they believed spirits and ghosts lived there. In this book he learns ancient myths and stories from his young native wife and then communes with a spirit who comes to his deathbed. In fact a lot of it is told from the viewpoint of the spirit, or is a narrative that Gaugin tells the spirit who leads him somewhere. It was a bit muddled (to me). I found most interesting the parts where he interacted with the natives, or with his wife- the contrast in their attitudes and cultures, and yet he apparently found some peace there. At least, he was able to indulge in his painting. Until he ran out of money and materials, sent all his paintings back to Europe hoping to make sales, and then abruptly left Tahiti. I felt so bad for the young “wife” he had there. One of my favorite scenes in the book is where she begs him to buy her a pair of earrings from a visiting foreigner, and he thinks they aren’t worth the asking price. He finally relents- and then she never wears them! It just had more expression for the faces than other pages- she was usually so placid and calm. In the end, he is destitute and suffering from disease, and dies alone back on Tahiti (never looked for or found his wife when he returned. Why? I’d sure like a story from her viewpoint).
One thing I really admired about this book is that the artwork closely mirrored Gaugin’s style. Many pages depicted scenes and paintings that I recognized. I liked that.
Borrowed from the public library.
