When will you Marry? by Paul Gauguin (Interpretation and Analysis)

When will you Marry?
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Though Paul Gauguin is a rather controversial figure in the art world, it is undeniable that his paintings are among the finest ever produced by a Western artist. Gauguin had a great genius for expressing emotional and psychological truths through art, relying on a complex and colorful visual language to achieve this effect. 

At its core, Gauguin’s art seeks to access a level of authenticity in each painting, with Gauguin seeking to explore the essence of each subject he painted. His most famous paintings date from his time in Tahiti, which Gauguin traveled to in hopes of finding a more genuine way of life, separate from the industrialized towns and cities of Europe.

When will you Marry? is one of Gauguin’s most famous paintings from his Tahitian period, and it became one of the most expensive paintings ever sold when it was purchased by a private collector for three hundred million dollars in 2015.

The painting portrays two women. The young woman in the foreground wears a white flower behind her ear, a traditional Tahitian symbol that indicated that a woman was seeking a husband. The woman is dressed in traditional Tahitian clothes, in contrast with the woman behind her, who wears a Western style dress. The woman in the background holds herself in a rigid position, while the younger woman in the foreground leans toward the viewer; her posture is inviting, signaling a degree of openness that clashes with the stern and forbidding woman in the background.

In some ways, these two women represent the clash of Western values with Tahitian culture. However, it’s unlikely that Gauguin understood the painting in that way. It’s more likely that he intended the piece to be an illustration of two different attitudes, the push and pull that makes up human experience.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.