'And now, as we begin to talk and share – what are your thoughts on the work?'
'It's very sensual,' ventures a voice near the front. 'Right at the centre of the painting is her, uh, butt!'
We are sat in a small semi-circle squinting at Gauguin's 'Manao Tupapau' at an Observant Eye evening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our group leader is a handsome lady who is lavish with her little nods of encouragement and her gasps of 'Did everyone hear that?' whenever anyone makes a comment she approves of.
The more we delve into the Manao Tupapau, the more surreal it becomes. I can feel my confusion blossoming like one of the strange white bursts of light in the lilac background. Happily, this is (apparently) an understandable emotional response. Gauguin is inviting us into his dream-world – rich, enigmatic and, ultimately, ineffable.
After all, as our leader sums up at the end of the evening: 'If you have experienced the phosphorescent glow of the spirits of your inner world tonight, then you will have understood something of the painting.'
'It's very sensual,' ventures a voice near the front. 'Right at the centre of the painting is her, uh, butt!'
We are sat in a small semi-circle squinting at Gauguin's 'Manao Tupapau' at an Observant Eye evening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our group leader is a handsome lady who is lavish with her little nods of encouragement and her gasps of 'Did everyone hear that?' whenever anyone makes a comment she approves of.
The more we delve into the Manao Tupapau, the more surreal it becomes. I can feel my confusion blossoming like one of the strange white bursts of light in the lilac background. Happily, this is (apparently) an understandable emotional response. Gauguin is inviting us into his dream-world – rich, enigmatic and, ultimately, ineffable.
After all, as our leader sums up at the end of the evening: 'If you have experienced the phosphorescent glow of the spirits of your inner world tonight, then you will have understood something of the painting.'
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