When Will You Marry?: Gauguin, Orientalism, Sexuality, and Women
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
When Will You Marry? by Paul Gauguin is a statement of Gauguin’s views about the “civilized” West, the “uncivilized” Orient, women, sexuality, and oppression. Through the juxtaposition of two young Tahitian women, Gauguin expressed his view that the West was a corrupted civilization in regard to sexuality, specifically that European cultures were sexually oppressive of women. In contrast, he found non-western “primitive” societies such as Tahiti to be closer to his ideal of humanity because women in these cultures enjoyed sexual freedom. This work thus represents a rejection of the widely held views of European cultural superiority.
Presentation Type
Event
Disciplines
History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Room 1306
Start Date
2-13-2016 10:15 AM
End Date
2-13-2016 11:15 AM
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When Will You Marry?: Gauguin, Orientalism, Sexuality, and Women
Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Room 1306
When Will You Marry? by Paul Gauguin is a statement of Gauguin’s views about the “civilized” West, the “uncivilized” Orient, women, sexuality, and oppression. Through the juxtaposition of two young Tahitian women, Gauguin expressed his view that the West was a corrupted civilization in regard to sexuality, specifically that European cultures were sexually oppressive of women. In contrast, he found non-western “primitive” societies such as Tahiti to be closer to his ideal of humanity because women in these cultures enjoyed sexual freedom. This work thus represents a rejection of the widely held views of European cultural superiority.
Comments
Faculty Mentor: Professor Martha Wyatt