When Will You Marry?

The front and middle ground are built up in areas of green, yellow and blue. A traditionally dressed young woman has settled on the threshold between the front and middle ground. Some art historians suggest the white tiare flower behind her left ear indicates she is seeking a husband. Behind her a second figure in a high-necked mission dress rises abruptly. Field thought her gesture derives from Buddhist art. The front woman stretches herself, her facial features stylized and simplified. The rear female figure is flush with the yellow-blue area. Her face is painted with individual features and represents the centre of the image. The pink colour of her dress is clearly distinct from the other colours. At the bottom right is the inscription "NAFEA Faa ipoipo" (When will you marry). Gauguin commonly inscribed his paintings in Tahitian at this time: he was fascinated by the language, though never advanced beyond its rudiments. Gauguin portrayed the Tahitian natives as living only to sing and to make love. That's how he got the money from his friends and raised the public's interest in his adventure. But, of course, he knew the truth, which was that Tahiti was an unremarkable island with an international, westernised community.