Painted in 1892 during Gauguin’s first trip to Tahiti and after Gauguin had grown tired of the impressionism style he had trained in.
The picture depicts two Tahitian naked women bathing in the sea with a fisherman fishing in the background. One of the points in the picture is that the fisherman is not offended or shocked by the women’s nudity.
This is typical of Gauguin’s work and trying to create primitive art.
Fatata Te Titi has experimental and vibrant colors to create a bond between nature and man. His move into post-impressionism is a result of Gauguin leaving France and his career as a successful stock broker and somewhat abandoning his wife and their children to travel.
During this time Gauguin visited Martinique, the Marquesas Islands and spending his final years in Tahiti.
Gauguin’s work has inspired and influenced many artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Braque.
Van Gogh also admired his work and the two spent nine weeks together in 1888 in Arles. It was during this visit that Gauguin created his now famous “Night Cafe at Arles”.
It has been documented that Gauguin thought himself superior to Van Gogh which ultimately lead to the deterioration of their relationship. It was during Gauguin’s visit that Van Gogh mutilated his own ear although it is not known if Gauguin witnessed it.
Gauguin visited his family one last time 1891 before returning to Tahiti where he would remain until his death in 1903 at the age of 54 of syphilis and other illnesses. He was buried on Atuono.
Fatata Te Titi is currently on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.