The Little One is Dreaming, Etude by Paul Gauguin

The Little One is Dreaming, Etude was completed by Paul Gauguin in 1881, in time for the Impressionists' seventh exhibition. With more than a dozen works, Gauguin was a stronger presence at the seventh exhibition than in the previous ones. He labeled his work etude, or study, suggesting that The Little One is Dreaming, Etude was observed and swiftly painted to capture the momentary effect. The subject is one of Paul Gauguin's children, asleep in a cradle with her back to the viewer, an intimate glimpse into his family life.

the little one is dreaming etude by paul gauguin
The Little One is Dreaming, Etude by Paul Gauguin
(oil on canvas, 23-5/8x29-1/8 inches) is housed at
the Ordrupgaard in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Though Paul Gauguin received critical praise during the seventh Impressionist exhibition, by the time the eighth exhibition rolled around critics were less impressed. Next we'll look at an Impressionist painting that fared less well with the critics.

For more on Impressionist paintings, artists, and art history, see: