Fatata Te Miti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fatata te Miti |
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| Artist | Paul Gauguin |
| Year | 1892 |
| Catalogue | W 463 |
| Type | Oil paint on canvas |
| Dimensions | 68 by 92 centimetres (27 in × 36 in) |
| Location | National Gallery of Art, Washington DC |
Fatata Te Miti (pronounced Fah-TAH-tah teh MEE-tee) is a famous oil painting created by the French artist Paul Gauguin in 1892. Its title means "By the Sea" in the Tahitian language. This artwork shows a peaceful scene from the island of Tahiti, where Gauguin lived for a time. The painting is quite large, measuring about 68 by 92 centimeters (26 3/4 by 36 inches). Today, you can see it at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
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Gauguin's Time in Tahiti
Paul Gauguin painted Fatata Te Miti just a few months after he first arrived in Tahiti. He traveled to this beautiful island in the South Pacific looking for a new way to live and new inspiration for his art. He wanted to escape the busy life of Europe and find a simpler, more natural world.
Living Among the Locals
Gauguin chose to live in the island's interior, away from the main towns. He wanted to experience the traditional life of the native people. This experience deeply influenced his art. He often painted scenes of daily life, landscapes, and portraits of the Tahitian people.
Who Was Tehura?
The woman on the right side of the painting is thought to be Tehura. She was Gauguin's partner and model during his time in Tahiti. Gauguin often included people he knew in his artworks, making his paintings very personal.
Colors and Style in Fatata Te Miti
Gauguin's paintings from Tahiti are known for their bright, bold colors. He used colors in a special way to create strong feelings and patterns.
Using Complementary Colors
In Fatata Te Miti and other works from this period, Gauguin used what are called complementary colors. These are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, like:
- Orange and blue
- Yellow and violet
- Green and red
When these colors are placed next to each other, they make each other look even brighter and more intense. Gauguin used these colors at their strongest, without blending them much. This created a vibrant and almost abstract look in his paintings. He balanced these bright colors to form beautiful patterns that are pleasing to the eye.
Gauguin's Unique Artistic Vision
Gauguin's style was very different from other artists of his time. He didn't just try to paint things exactly as they looked. Instead, he used colors and shapes to express his feelings and ideas about the world. His Tahitian paintings, like Fatata Te Miti, are famous for their unique beauty and how they capture the spirit of the South Seas.
