What Are We? (1897)- Gauguin�s philosophical masterpiece, painted in Tahiti, explores the cycle of life through symbolic figures representing birth, existence, and death. The sprawling canvas is read from right to left, beginning with a sleeping infant and ending with an old woman. Rich in color and mysticism, it reflects Gauguin�s existential crisis and his search for meaning beyond Western civilization. The painting�s enigmatic title and spiritual undertones make it one of his most discussed works.�� *Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)��was a French painter, sculptor,�printmaker,�ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the�Post-Impressionist�and�Symbolist�movements.�He is a noted as a pioneer of modern art, known for his experimental use of color and Synthetist style,�that were distinct from�Impressionism.�He abandoned a career as a stockbroker and his family in France, escaped from European life to pursue a "primitive" existence and artistic vision, eventually settling in Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands.�His work�rejected Western naturalism in favor of simplified forms, bold outlines, and non-naturalistic colors to express emotional, tranquil and spiritual states. Gauguin's art was largely unappreciated during his lifetime but profoundly influenced 20th-century avant-garde artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.�