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Art is either plagiarism or revolution.

—Paul Gauguin

In his life as well as his art, Paul Gauguin chose the path less taken. One of the most influential and revolutionary French painters of the Post-Impressionist movement, Gauguin abandoned the imitative art popular in his era and instead favored expressiveness through color.

How do you see this tree? Is it really green? Use green, then, the most beautiful green on your palette. And that shadow, rather blue? Don't be afraid to paint it as blue as possible. —Paul Gauguin

Gauguin's artwork was strongly influenced by folk art and Japanese prints, although earlier in his career, he spent years studying, painting and exhibiting with Impressionist greats like Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne.

His most successful body of work was painted in Tahiti and the Pacific Southwest, where he lived from 1891 until his death. The paintings he produced in the tropics are characterized by their vivid colors, flat forms and nostalgic, "primitive" feel.

Gauguin's art and personal life showed many markings of a departure from society and, perhaps, a preference for a more simple life. The video montage below is a celebration of the colorful diversity of Gauguin's paintings, set to a backdrop of Tahitian choir music. Enjoy!

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