I came across an interesting press report today, in which the well-known art historian Waldemar Janusczak described the opportunity he had recently to look at a very rare document acquired by the Courtauld institute. It is a lengthy written memoire by Paul Gauguin. I understand that a translation of this is likely to be published in the near future.
This is certainly an event to which I will be looking forward. Regular readers of this blog will recall that I reported last year on my visit to the large retrospective exhibition of Gauguin’s work in London, in which I raised my own questions about the conventional portrayal of the artist’s character.* If Janusczak is correct, then the publication of this document will present challenges to many of the taken-for-granted generalisations about him. I would certainly love to see its publication.**
*Blog entry for 15 December 2019.
** Incidentally, my birthday is in May!