When Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) painted Vision After the Sermon in the summer of 1888 he was a mature artist who had travelled, exhibited and worked in a variety of media. Today the painting is considered a masterpiece, helping to assure Gauguin's fame the world over. Few paintings have given rise to more art historical analysis and critique, more speculation, admiration or recrimination. This book illuminates one of the most intriguing and famous images in the history of western art. This re-examination of the painting, Vision After the Sermon: Jacob Wrestling with the Angel brings together works by Gauguin, his mentors such as Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas, and younger contemporaries including Emile Bernard, Paul Sérusier, Maurice Denis and Henri van de Velde. It explores the biographical, pictorial and cultural circumstances that enabled Gauguin to make such a radical statement in paint in 1888. This beautifully illustrated book is a fascinating introduction to this iconic image.
