Walking stick with a female nude and a Breton sabot on the handle

Paul Gauguin French

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 825

Gauguin made five trips to Brittany between 1886 and 1894. He liked the region's "savage, primitive" quality. His perception is embodied in the carving of this walking stick, with its snake-entwined shaft and handle in the form of a female nude supporting a Breton wooden shoe. The sole of the shoe slides open to reveal a hidden compartment.

Walking stick with a female nude and a Breton sabot on the handle, Paul Gauguin (French, Paris 1848–1903 Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands), Boxwood, mother-of-pearl [Pinctada margaritifera (black-lip pearl oyster)], glass, and iron, French

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Walking stick with a female nude and a Breton sabot on the handle, Paul Gauguin (French, Paris 1848–1903 Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands), Boxwood, mother-of-pearl [Pinctada margaritifera (black-lip pearl oyster)], glass, and iron, French
Walking stick with a female nude and a Breton sabot on the handle, Paul Gauguin (French, Paris 1848–1903 Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands), Boxwood, mother-of-pearl [Pinctada margaritifera (black-lip pearl oyster)], glass, and iron, French
Walking stick with a female nude and a Breton sabot on the handle, Paul Gauguin (French, Paris 1848–1903 Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands), Boxwood, mother-of-pearl [Pinctada margaritifera (black-lip pearl oyster)], glass, and iron, French
Walking stick with a female nude and a Breton sabot on the handle, Paul Gauguin (French, Paris 1848–1903 Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands), Boxwood, mother-of-pearl [Pinctada margaritifera (black-lip pearl oyster)], glass, and iron, French
Walking stick with a female nude and a Breton sabot on the handle, Paul Gauguin (French, Paris 1848–1903 Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands), Boxwood, mother-of-pearl [Pinctada margaritifera (black-lip pearl oyster)], glass, and iron, French
Walking stick with a female nude and a Breton sabot on the handle, Paul Gauguin (French, Paris 1848–1903 Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands), Boxwood, mother-of-pearl [Pinctada margaritifera (black-lip pearl oyster)], glass, and iron, French

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.