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"Two Tahitian Women" is an evocative and vibrant painting by Paul Gauguin, characterized by his distinctive post-Impressionist style. The painting depicts two native women from Tahiti, rendered with Gauguin's signature bold colors and simplified, yet expressive forms.

The woman on the left is adorned in a rich red pareo (a traditional Tahitian wraparound skirt) with a floral pattern, and her dark, flowing hair descends over her shoulders. She holds a lotus flower delicately in her hand, suggesting themes of natural beauty and purity. The figure gazes out of the painting, engaging the viewer with a direct and serene look.

The woman on the right, slightly behind the first, wears a yellow garment with a hint of a red underskirt. She rests one arm on her companion's shoulder while the other hand holds a bouquet of flowers, symbolizing fertility and nature. Her hair is tied up, giving her a more demure appearance. She looks contemplatively to the side, adding a layer of introspection to the work.

The background is imbued with lush, earthen hues, possibly representing the verdant landscape of Tahiti. The painting's overall composition is both simple and harmonious, allowing the focus to stay on the figures and their expressive, poised postures.

Artist and Historical Context:
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was a French post-Impressionist artist whose bold experimentation with color and form distinguished him from his contemporaries. Gauguin originally worked as a stockbroker, but in the mid-1880s, he abandoned a secure life to pursue a career in art. By the late 1880s, Gauguin sought to escape European industrialization and the constraints of Western artistic tradition, leading him to travel extensively, first to Brittany and then to Tahiti.

"Two Tahitian Women" was painted during Gauguin's second stay in Tahiti from 1895 to 1901, a period marked by his deep engagement with the exotic and spiritual aspects of Polynesian culture. During this time, Gauguin was searching for what he perceived as a "primitive" purity, untainted by the conventionalities of European society.

Gauguin's work in Tahiti had a significant impact on the development of modern art, particularly the Primitivism movement. His bold use of color, synthesis of forms, and departure from realistic representation influenced many future artists, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

Noteworthy Details:
- The painting reflects Gauguin's fascination with Tahitian culture, seen through his compositional choices and symbolic references to nature.
- The direct gaze of the women is somewhat rare in Gauguin’s works, often leaving his subjects in a reflective or passive state.
- The use of bright colors and simplified forms would become a hallmark of Gauguin's mature style, reflecting his belief in color's emotive and symbolic potentials.
- "Two Tahitian Women" underscores Gauguin's abilities as both a painter and a storyteller, capturing a moment that is serene yet filled with underlying narratives of cultural and personal significance.

Current Location:
This painting is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where it continues to draw interest for its beauty and historical importance. The museum acquired it in 1936, and it remains one of the highlights of their extensive collection of late 19th-century European art.