Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"We Shall Not Go to Market Today" by Paul Gauguin is a visually compelling painting that captures the essence of the artist's post-Impressionist style. The painting features a scene set in Polynesia, where Gauguin spent several years of his life and where he developed a significant portion of his most notable artwork.

At the center of the composition is a group of four native women, depicted in traditional attire. They appear to be in a state of repose or casual conversation, seated on the ground in an open and serene setting. The women's postures and expressions suggest a day of rest or a purposeful decision not to engage in the daily hustle of market life.

Gauguin's use of color is particularly striking in this work. The palette consists of lush, vibrant hues that are characteristic of his Tahitian period. The background is a verdant green, suggesting the abundance of nature that surrounds the women. Bright reds, yellows, and blues in their clothing stand out against this green backdrop, creating a lively contrast that draws the viewer's eye.

The artist's brushwork is bold yet curvaceous, emphasizing the contours and forms of his subjects rather than minute details. The overall flatness and the solid blocks of color reflect Gauguin's departure from the Impressionist style of rendering light and shadow in favor of a more symbolic and abstract representation of the world.

- Location: The original painting "We Shall Not Go to Market Today" is part of the collection at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen, Denmark.

- Artist Background: Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was a French Post-Impressionist artist. He is well-known for his experimental use of color and Synthetist style that were distinct from Impressionism. Gauguin's work was influential to many modern artists, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

- Artistic Context: The painting was created during Gauguin's first trip to Tahiti, from 1891 to 1893. This period is crucial in Gauguin's career as it marks his quest for a purer, more "primitive" type of art that he felt was missing in Western society. He sought to escape European civilization and its constraints, aiming to find an untouched paradise where he could explore more authentic cultural expressions. This work fits well into that phase of seeking simplicity, natural beauty, and exoticism in his subjects.

- Symbolism: The painting is often interpreted as a reflection of Gauguin's own rejection of European social norms and commercial activities. The decision of the women "not to go to market" symbolizes a departure from materialism and an embrace of a more spiritual and tranquil existence.

- Cultural Representation: Although fondly portraying the Tahitian women and their lifestyle, Gauguin’s perspective was inevitably filtered through his Western lens, which sometimes led to a romanticized or idealized depiction of Polynesian life.

- Influence: This painting, like many of Gauguin's works from this period, reinforced his reputation as an artist who deftly bridged the gap between pure representational art and the emerging abstract movements of the early 20th century. His bold color choices and stylistic innovations influenced the Fauvism movement and later developments in modern art.

"We Shall Not Go to Market Today" stands as a pertinent example of Gauguin's oeuvre during his Polynesian period, offering insights into his unique approach to color, form, and cultural narrative.