Père Jean's Path
Particulars
Meanwhile, in the life of Paul Gauguin
The whole life1870s–1891 · Workplace
Paris
1883
Becomes a Professional Artist
From 1883 Gauguin was a professional artist: he gave up his work as a broker and devoted all his time to painting.
1884 – April 1885 · Residence
Frederiksberg
1884–1885
Break with His Family
In 1884 Gauguin moved with his family to Copenhagen, where he worked for a time as a broker; after he devoted himself entirely to painting, his wife, left without means, abandoned him, taking their five children. In 1885 he returned to Paris with his son Clovis and spent his first winter in real poverty.
April 1885 · Residence
Nørregade
summer 1886
First Summer in Pont-Aven, Meeting Laval
Gauguin spent the summer of 1886 in the artists' colony of Pont-Aven in Brittany, drawn there by the cheapness of life; he enjoyed unexpected success among the young artists and met Charles Laval, his future companion on the journey to Panama and Martinique.
![Pair of Wooden Shoes (Sabots) [left], Paul Gauguin, 1889/1890](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/44a731a9-e900-4898-a282-01034fcaa6ca/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
