This painting was presented to Torajiro Kojima in 1920 when he visited Denis's studio during his second journey to Europe. The director was impressed because the crown prince was only a grammar school student but he already knew about Ando Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai.' This was the conversation two of them had. Fuji series and the red color of the rocks appears similar to that of 'the Red Fuji'. 'Probably (Katsushika) Hokusai, as strong waves remind us of 'Great Wave Off Kanagawa' from the Thirty-six Views of Mt. The director said, in front of this painting, 'This painter was influenced by such Japanese woodprint as Ukiyo-e.' He leisurely looked at each painting while the director of the museum, Mr. The current Crown Prince visited Ohara Museum of Art twice so far, the first time being when he was only a fourth grader or so. 24: the End of the Century and Impressionism', (Shogakukan Inc, 1996)Ĭatalog of 'Les Nabis and Japan Exhibition' (Niigata Prefectural Museum of Art, 2000) Anecdote The bold composition of the waves, rocks and people let shapes and colors appear in the way they were intended and give voluminous and vibrant impressions.Ĭatalog of 'Maurice Denis Exhibition' (Gallery Art Point,1983) Gauguin's painting is an illustration of a piece of reading. A romantic German novel entitled Undine, was written by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Baron de la Motte Fouqu. Through his painting style, we can get a sense of the theory of Les Nabis. In the Waves (Ondine) Ondine (or Undine) is a medieval love story of a water nymph and a knight, and the folly that results from their union. Denis had very diverse activities at this time including creating illustrations for religious books. Paul Gauguin - In The Waves (dans Les Vagues) - Giclee Canvas Complete colection of art, limited editions, prints, posters and custom framing on sale now at. This painting 'Wave' was painted about 27 years after the foundation of Les Nabis. He was also influenced by Japanese art through Ukiyo-e. He often traveled to Italy and created paintings influenced by the Renaissance period classical art, as well. Their activities expanded into decoration of theaters and churches and poster making.ĭenis played a very important role as he contributed to Les Nabis not only by creating paintings but by supporting the school with his theory.

By doing so, decorative features of the paintings were more reinforced. While placing an emphasis on profile lines, they used pure colors and their composition of the paintings was two dimensional. Hence they formed Les Nabis in the same year. Denis and his friends learned from him about Gauguin's views about art and were deeply moved. almost symmetrical flowers that the sea foam embroiders on the waves (2). Serusier brought the paintings he had created under the guidance of Gauguin back to Paris and showed them to his friends. The MNBA is fortunate enough to possess two paintings from Gauguins series. Serusier stayed in Bretagne, the north western region of France in 1888 when he was introduced to an artist by his artist friend Emile Bernard. He then went on to L'academie Julian and came to know Bonnard and Serusier there. He went to Lycee Condorcet, where he met Roussel and Vuillard. Maurice Denis was born in a small town Grandville, Normandy, in northern France.

Gauguin into the waves