The artwork in question, “Blue Barge,” is an oil on canvas creation by the artist Paul Gauguin dating back to 1882, executed during the time that the Impressionist movement was flourishing in France. This landscape painting, which measures 29.8 by 47 centimeters, is part of the collection housed at the Lowe Art Museum located in Coral Gables, Florida, United States.
In “Blue Barge,” the artist employs a palette that captures the essence of Impressionism, with vivid, yet serene brushwork that suggests the tranquility of a waterfront scene. The foreground of the artwork is dominated by the watercraft of the title, while the background features an impressionistic portrayal of nature with lush foliage and trees under a sky that suggests a time of day where the light is in flux. The strokes are loose and communicate raw sensory perception that is characteristic of the Impressionist style. The painting’s composition creates a feeling of depth as it leads the viewer’s eye from the shaded foreground with the barge, toward the brightly lit trees and sky in the distance, invoking a sense of calmness that is often associated with scenes of nature.
