Calendar of events | Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao

View the recommended itinerary

PERMANENT COLLECTION

Recommended itinerary

Laveuses à Arles. (Washerwomen in Arles)

Laveuses à Arles. (Washerwomen in Arles)

PERMANENT COLLECTION

Recommended itinerary

Laveuses à Arles. (Washerwomen in Arles)

Laveuses à Arles. (Washerwomen in Arles)

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Paul Gauguin

Paris, France, 1848-Atuona, Islas Marquesas, 1903

1888

Oil on canvas, 74 x 92 cm

Contributed by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia in 1920

Washerwomen in Arles was painted in that French town, where Gauguin settled late in 1888 summoned by Vincent van Gogh, who hoped to found a community of artists there. The work captures the painter’s concern in emphasising expressiveness over and above formalism, which entailed his final break with Impressionism. This principle, for which Gauguin coined the term Syntheticism, was characterised by non-mimetic representations of nature, the rejection of the third dimension taken from Japanese prints and the separation of colour in broad contrasted planes by means of dark lines. Exceptional features of the work are the abstract background, the impression of movement, the photographic framing that silhouettes certain elements, the flat shapes with dark contours and the areas of pure colour. The distortion and rigidity of the figures betray the influence of the rough stone statuary in Breton churches. In the last few decades of the nineteenth century Gauguin, who began to paint late in life, led the transformation of Impressionist principles into more subjective forms of expression. His artistic language was determined by his trips to Pont-Aven and Arles, not to mention the South Seas. The brightness of the colours and the light in Polynesia and the close ties between the indigenous society and nature caused a great impression on the painter; consequently, the exotic locations and primitive beliefs of Brittany and Tahiti, alongside the pictorial expressiveness of his friend Van Gogh became the references that helped materialise his ideas, which were also rendered in prints, ceramics and, in his last years on the island of Hiva-Oa, in sculpture. [J.N.G.]

Activities with discounts and/or preferential entrance and additional information regarding the advantages of collaborating with other entities.

Our Artists: Meeting with Anda

May 30 (Wednesday) at 17.00 h.
Exclusive and free of charge for the Friends of the Museum.

It´s required to reserve a place at 94 439 61 37. If you´re unable to attend the meeting, please let us know as soon as possible in the same number.
Anselmo Guinea (1855-1906)

Visitas guiadas exclusivas para los Amigos del Museo

5 € para Amigos del Museo y 7 € para acompañantes
Gratuita para Amigos Protectores con un acompañante

Es necesario reservar plaza llamando a partir del día 1 de febrero al teléfono 94 439 61 37, de lunes a viernes y de 9.00 a 14.00 horas
Institute of Leisure Studies at the University of Deusto

“Enjoy the Arts” Lifelong Learning Programme

Enrolment: June-July

10% Discount for Friends of the Museum / Tel. 94 413 90 75
The Arriaga Theatre

Friends of the Museum will have a discount of 25% applied to their entrance tickets for the performances mentioned.

Friends of the Museum season ticket holders MUST show their cards at the Ticket Office in order to obtain this discount.
BOS Sinfonic Concerts

Friends of the Museum, discount of 20% applied to entrance tickets

Palacio Euskalduna, 20 p.m.
Conciertos en Familia BOS

Palacio Euskalduna, Sala A1, 12:30h
Precio especial Amigos del Museo: 4€

Pulcinella: Euskera - Recomendado entre 5 y 11 años
Guia de Orquesta: Castellano - Recomendado a partir de los 7 años

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