Art and Art History Collection (Saskia)

L'Appel (The Call)

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Publisher

Saskia, Ltd., Cultural Documentation

Abstract

There are many theories about the meaning of L'Appel. Some believe the call refers to the Christian idea of the call to follow the path to salvation. Or perhaps the beckoning figure is a temptress calling to her lover. A third theory suggests that the half-nude woman represents death calling to Gauguin himself. The couple in the foreground appear in several of Gauguin's paintings and sculptures, and he described them as two figures who are reflecting on their life experiences. The purple in the hood worn by one of them was a symbolic color for Gauguin and appears in many of his works. In Tahiti, purple referred to purpura, a disease in which the skin appears purple because of hemorrhaging beneath.

Keywords

Cleveland, Ohio, United States, Tahiti, Style: French Post-Impressionist, School: Post-Impressionist, Movement: Post-Impressionism, French, Painting;, Painting

Geographic Location

Cleveland, Ohio, United States; Tahiti

Time Period

1902

Type

StillImage

Rights

This material is licensed by USF Libraries for the research and teaching needs of USF students, staff, and faculty only. See: https://lib.usf.edu/collections-and-discovery/collection-management/user-terms/

Access Restrictions

Only thumbnail images and descriptive information are available to non-USF users. Full access to this collection is available only to authorized users on the USF network on campus or via VPN.

Media Type

Paintings; Pictures

Holding Location

University of South Florida

Identifier

A01-PFF0005

L'Appel (The Call)

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