Symbolism

Paul Sérusier

Paul Sérusier (1864–1927) was a founder of the Nabis, a group of Symbolist painters inspired by Gauguin. His tiny landscape The Talisman, almost abstract, became a manifesto for modern colour.

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1864–1927 · French Symbolist painter

Through the Nabis, Sérusier helped pass Gauguin's bold colour on to the next generation of modern art.

From the artist's life

Sérusier painted The Talisman under Gauguin's direct instruction to use pure, unmixed colour — laying a foundation stone of abstraction.

Source: Wikipedia / Wikimedia

Portrait of Paul Sérusier — Portrait: Wikimedia Commons / Wikipedia.

Co-founded the Symbolist Nabis group with Bonnard and Vuillard.
His near-abstract Talisman became a manifesto of pure colour.
Carried Gauguin's bold colour theory into the 20th century.

Paul Sérusier, Le Talisman, l'Aven au Bois d'Amour

Key works

Where to start

Complete list of key works

Works with a dedicated ArtAtlas page are highlighted in gold.

List checked against Wikidata

Le Talisman, l'Aven au Bois d'AmourOn ArtAtlas
Two Breton Women under an Apple Tree in FlowerListed for reference
La Lutte bretonneListed for reference
La Barrière fleurie, Le PoulduListed for reference
Les trois fileusesListed for reference

1888

Le Talisman, l'Aven au Bois d'Amour

Sérusier painted The Talisman in October 1888 in Pont-Aven on the lid of a cigar box — the whole thing is just 27 × 21 cm, small enough to fit in a coat pocket.