The Writings of a Savage

The Writings of a Savage, Gauguin, Paul. Edited by Danuel Guérin, with an Introduction by Wayne Andersen; Translated by Eleanor Levieux. Published by Viking Press, New York, 1978. 8vo up to 9½" tall. 208 pages including Biographical Index. Quarter orange cloth over brown boards with black and yellow spine titles, green endpapers. Volume in fine condition with light dust speckling to outside edges; jacket is clipped and otherwise fine.
The life of Paul Gauguin (1848–1903), who abandoned his wife, five children, and a successful career as a stockbroker to paint in poverty in exotic Tahiti, is one of the legendary tales of the art world. Today he is recognized as a highly influential founding father of modern art, who emphasized the use of flat planes and bright, non-naturalistic color in conjunction with symbolic or primitive subjects. Familiarity with Gauguin the writer is essential for a complete understanding of the artist. The Writings of a Savage collects the very best of his letters, articles, books, and journals, many of which are unavailable elsewhere. In brilliantly lucid discussions of life and art Gauguin paints a triumphant self-portrait of a volcanic artist and the tormented man within.