Le Sourire (The Smile)

1891–1901 · Virkested

Tahiti

1897

News of the Death of His Daughter Aline

In April 1897 Gauguin received news that his beloved daughter Aline had died of pneumonia; the same month he learned that he had to vacate his house, and, taking out a bank loan for a new one, by the end of the year he was on the brink of ruin and despair.

c. 1898

Suicide Attempt

After finishing Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?, Gauguin attempted suicide by taking arsenic, but the dose proved too large, and a violent fit of vomiting saved his life.

16 September 1901

Move to Hiva Oa, the House of Pleasure

On 16 September 1901 Gauguin arrived at Atuona on the island of Hiva Oa (Marquesas Islands), where he bought a plot from the Catholic mission and built a two-story house he named the Maison du Jouir ("House of Pleasure"). Here, despite illness and poverty, he worked at full strength — painting landscapes, writing stories, and engaging in journalism.

27 March 1903

Sentence: Fine and Three Months in Prison

After Gauguin's campaign against the gendarmes and his accusations of corruption, the gendarme Claverie sued him for libel: on 27 March 1903 the local magistrate sentenced the artist to a fine of 500 francs and three months in prison. Gauguin appealed to Papeete, but the imprisonment was never carried out — he died shortly afterwards.

8. maj 1903

Died