Woman of Martinique, 1889

Paul Gauguin, French, 1848–1903

Woman of Martinique, 1889

Painted clay, textile, paper, wooden base (and plaster restorations)
The Henry and Rose Pearlman Foundation, on long-term loan to the Princeton University Art Museum
photo: Bruce M. White

Like the later relief on view nearby, this statuette originally formed part of a decorative scheme. The artist and his friends installed sculptures and ceramics—like Woman of Martinique—alongside painted murals for the dining room of the rural inn in Brittany where they stayed.

Reconstruction of the Dining Room of the Buvette de la Plage, Le Pouldu.  Association des Amis de la Maison Marie Henry, Le Pouldu, France / Image licensed by Alamy