Inspired by a primitive way of life, Paul Gauguin came to reject the world of the Impressionists, leaving Parisian society in search of paradise. Explore the life of this 19th-century French artist through his astonishingly vibrant and exotic paintings. The DK ArtBook series presents both the life and works of each artist within the cultural, social, and political context of their time. To make the books easy to consult, they are divided into three areas -- the life and works of the artist, historical and cultural background, and analysis of major works -- which are identifiable by side bands. Each spread focuses on a specific theme, with an introductory text and several annotated illustrations. Few art history texts contain such abundance of full-color illustrations. The index section is also illustrated and gives background information on key figures and the location of the artist's works.