The vision after the sermon by Paul Gauguin

This iconic masterpiece of the Pont-Aven school is fully part of the synthetism movement, where simplified forms and subjective colors take precedence over realism. The French artist Paul Gauguin expresses a mystical and collective piety here through his famous creation entitled “La Vision après le sermon”. Breaking completely with impressionism, this revolutionary canvas marks the birth of a symbolist art where the imaginary is intimately intertwined with the reality of the devout women.

In the foreground, a group of Breton women dressed in their traditional white coifs and dark prayer garments are gathered in contemplation, their eyes closed or their profiles turned toward the mystical scene. A dark diagonal, formed by the trunk of an apple tree, powerfully crosses the composition and separates the real world from the heavenly vision. On a flamboyant and unrealistic red background, the angel with golden wings wrestles hand-to-hand with Jacob in full spiritual combat. To the left of the trunk, a solitary cow grazes peacefully, while the frontal light accentuates the purity of the starched caps. The arrangement of flat shapes outlined in black creates a striking atmosphere of spiritual fervor.

The painter’s exceptional artisanal know-how lies in his masterful treatment of pure color and formal synthetism. His innovative and bold technique makes it possible to exalt the sensuality of forms and to immortalize the vibrant warmth of the tropics with an absolutely incomparable decorative power.