Gauguin is a a leading Post-Impressionist painter. His bold experimentation with coloring led directly to the Synthetist style of modern art while his expression of the inherent meaning of the subjects in his paintings, under the influence of the cloisonnist style, paved the way to Primitivism and the return to the pastoral. Famous for his journeys to Tahiti, his subject matter reflects his struggle with modern society and his respect for the “primitive” lifestyle.