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Gauguinesque

Gauguinesque

1 9.9
Having bright colors and simple flat shapes like paintings by Paul Gauguin
  • adjective
  • /ɡoʊɡɪˈnɛsk/
  • Specialized
: gauguinesco
  • The critic described the painting’s lush, Gauguinesque landscapes as both vibrant and dreamlike.

Examples

  • The artist's latest series features Gauguinesque colors and tropical scenery.

  • Her artwork is distinctly Gauguinesque in its vibrant colors.

  • She wore a dress with Gauguinesque patterns, bold and evocative.

  • The painting has a Gauguinesque quality that captivates the viewer.

  • The artist's latest series features Gauguinesque colors and tropical scenery.

  • The critic described the painting’s lush, Gauguinesque landscapes as both vibrant and dreamlike.

  • She wore a dress with Gauguinesque patterns, bold and evocative.

Surface Forms

Gauguinesque positive

Morphology

Gauguinesque = Gauguin (semi-transparent) = Gauguin + esque

Form is clearly 'Gauguin' + '-esque' meaning 'in the style of Gauguin', but understanding requires knowledge of the artist or the literary suffix '-esque'.

Etymology

Gauguinesque comes from the artist Gauguin and the ending -esque, which means 'in the style of', like in picturesque. So Gauguinesque means 'in Gauguin's style' — bright, bold colours and simple, dreamlike shapes like his paintings.