La Belle Angèle (The Beautiful Angela), from 1889 by Paul Gauguin is a colourful portrait of Angélique Marie Satre, a well-known innkeeper from the village of Pont-Aven in Brittany. The painting currently hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Gauguin chose a distinctive style: clean lines, flat shapes and vibrant colours, inspired by Japanese art that was very popular at the time. The result is a portrait that shows not only the woman herself, but also something of the painter's innovative and idiosyncratic way of working.
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was a French artist who became truly famous only after his death. During his lifetime, he constantly tried to find new ways, away from the impressionism that was fashionable at the time. He used colour and form to emphasise feeling and symbolism rather than realistic representation. After a time in Brittany, he left for French Polynesia, where he produced paintings full of tropical atmospheres and intense colours. Today, Gauguin is considered one of the great innovators of modern art.
                                
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections:
 
                         The endangered swan, Jan Asselijn
The endangered swan, Jan Asselijn The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael
The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon
Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem
Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen
A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen The goldfinch, Carel Fabritius
The goldfinch, Carel Fabritius Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland
Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland Jacob Maris - Fishing boat
Jacob Maris - Fishing boat The School of Athens, Raphael
The School of Athens, Raphael Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh
Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh The Mirror, Robert Reid
The Mirror, Robert Reid Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633
Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633 The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting
The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting Agapanthus, Claude Monet
Agapanthus, Claude Monet Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard
Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard Cypresses
Cypresses The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet
The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai
The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd
Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)
Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)