nPostednon June 7, 2014
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nBacknin the olden days, many people were born in a small town or growingncity, grew up there, took on an adult life and profession that wasnalmost identical to their parents, married and raised families innthat same town or city, and died there. Sure, some people traveled,nlearned foreign languages, changed careers, and broke off on theirnown unique path – but many, many people did not.
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PaulnGauguin was one of the few who did.
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nAndnhe started early! He moved from Europe to South America, and thennback again, as a child!
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nGauguinnwas born on this date in 1848 in Paris, France. His father was anjournalist but was from a family of French market gardeners andngreengrocers—the name Gauguin means walnut-grower—and hisnmother was from a Peruvian family with a feminist and socialistnstreak. When he was just one year old, the family left Paris to movento Peru, but Gauguin’s father died on the voyage. At age 18 monthsnold, Gauguin’s family had shrunk to just him, his mother, and hisnsister.
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nPaulnGauguin lived for several years in Lima, Peru, with relatives. WhennGauguin was seven, the family returned to France, where little Paulnlearned French and went to school. He served in the merchant marinenand the navy, and at 23 he became a successful Parisian stockbroker.nHe developed a hobby, too: painting.
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| This 1888 painting is not as brightly colored as many of Gauguin’s later works. |
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nWhennhe married a Danish woman and had five kids, Gauguin moved tonCopenhagen, Denmark, where he became a tarpaulin salesman.
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nButnhe was driven to make art.
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nAndnhe didn’t speak Danish.
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nAndnhe was not a success in the tarpaulin biz.
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nGauguin’snmarriage fell apart, and he moved back to Paris.
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Gauguinnhad an amazing life as an artist living in Paris. He made friendsnwith other artists, and he often painted with them. He visited an artncolony with his artist friends. He even lived with Vincent van Goghnfor nine weeks.
Gauguinnhad an amazing life as an artist living in Paris. He made friendsnwith other artists, and he often painted with them. He visited an artncolony with his artist friends. He even lived with Vincent van Goghnfor nine weeks.n
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nStill,nGauguin continued to travel and live in exotic places. In 1887, he visitednPanama and then lived for a while in Martinique. He moved back to France for a while longer but then, in 1891, Gauguin sailed tonFrench Polynesia: Tahiti, Hiva Oa Island, Punaauia, and MarquesasnIsland, where he eventually died.
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nGauguin’snart is known for its use of colors and of symbols, and although hisnart wasn’t much appreciated during his lifetime, it became highlynregarded after his death. His art is considered Post-Impressionistnand helped lead to modern art and Primitivism.
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nAfter serving in the armed forces and being a stockbroker and tarpaulin salesman, Gauguin became a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer. n
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nAnd after living in Peru and France and Denmark, he lived on islands in the Caribbean and in the South Pacific.
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nWhatna life, huh?
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nAlsonon this date:
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nBoonenDay
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nPoetnGwendolyn Brooks’s birthday
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nBirthdaynof men’s fashion icon Beau Brummell
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nJunen holidays
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nJunen birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in June
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJulyn holidays
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nJulyn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in July
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