Paul Gauguin was a French Post-Impressionist artist. He was a significant figure in the Symbolist movement as a ceramist, painter, printmaker, sculptor, and writer.

Although he is now known as a famous artist, he didn't initially begin his career in the art field. Around 1873, Gauguin became a stockbroker and also began painting in his free time. Following the crash of the stock market in 1882, Gauguin's career as a stockbroker took a hit. In October 1883, he wrote a letter to Pissarro, another French painter, about his decision to make his living from painting at all costs.

Gauguin eventually split from his wife and left his children, and traveled to various areas of the world. In 1888, he created one of his most well-known paintings, "Vision of the Sermon."

Eventually, by 1891, Gauguin grew exhausted and weary of the constructions imposed by European society. He sought refuge in Tahiti, as he believed it would provide him a form of personal and creative artistic freedom.

The move to Tahiti would prove to be a radical change in his environment, as Gauguin previously had resided in westernized areas within France. In Tahiti, Gauguin decided to live among native people, rather than in areas that had already been developed.

Similar to Jan Gelb, this new environment became a great inspiration for many of his later works, due to the time he spent surrounded by such a culturally rich environment.