The Siesta

Paul Gauguin (French) ca. 1892–94 Gauguin was deeply fascinated by the natural, unpretentious beauty and harmonious social interactions of Tahitian women. He dedicated a significant amount of time to working on this particular painting, making multiple adjustments and alterations along the way. One notable change is the color of the skirt worn by the woman in the foreground. Originally, it was depicted as a vibrant red but was later modified. Additionally, there was originally a dog in the area now occupied by the basket at the lower right corner of the painting. Furthermore, the woman seated at the left edge of the porch underwent a shift in her position, originally being situated further to the left of the composition. These changes highlight Gauguin's meticulous approach and his continuous exploration of composition and visual elements. By refining and adjusting various aspects of the painting, he sought to achieve the desired aesthetic and capture the essence of the scene he obs