Gauguin’s Hiva Oa :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Gauguins Hiva OaThe Tahitian island of Hiva Oa is the place where artist capital of Minnesota Gauguin chose to expect out the remaining years of his spiritedness. In The Moon and Sixpence, the narrator describes the place by saying, the beauty of the island is unveiled as diminishing aloofness shows you in distincter shape its lovely peaksfor Tahiti is smiling and friendly (Maugham 160). This is an excellent description of the island, and it is little wonder that Gauguin found solace here. Hiva Oa is on the southern sloping trough of Tahiti and is the most fertile and well known of the Marquisas group of islands, of which there be six. Even today, Hiva Oa retains much of the physical beauty that it did during Gauguins stay. Many of the roads are unpaved and the largest tikis in Polynesia are found right on the island. On the cliffs overlooking the village of Atuona is Cavalry Cemetery where Gauguin is buried, along with another(prenominal) famous man, Belgian singer Jacques B rel, who also lived out his life in Hiva Oa. In the village is a museum dedicated to the artists life and works. Further to the east is Puamau Village, where many of Gauguins descendants still live, mostly in the native lifestyle. In The Moon and Sixpence the natives are depict as being promiscuous, although the definition may have a various meaning to Westerners than it does to the natives. One of the narrators friends describes the artists wife as a good girl and shes only seventeen. Shes never been promiscuous like some of these girlsa captain or a first mate, yes (Maugham 185). This may have been the norm at the time, and unmatchable website describes the philosophy of natives today as parents allow young people to live an independent sexual life. Young people choose their partners themselves and they may eternal rest with anyone they wish to (Petya). Such an easygoing attitude may be problematical for many people to understand, but Gauguin seemingly fit in kind of well. This world(a) good nature is further seen in a general attitude of goodwill toward all people and overall generosity. The natives, especially in Gauguins time, were not so much concerned with money and signifi hind endt wealth as in living freely. Households at the timeand this can also be seen sometimes todayconsisted of a sleeping mark and a cooking house, surrounded by an ua ma, or pit for storing fermented breadfruit tree could be found.