Paul Gauguin was a French post-impressionist artist known for his bold use of color, simplified forms, and symbolic imagery. Seeking escape from European society, he spent much of his later life in Tahiti, where he painted scenes inspired by local culture and mythology. Gauguin rejected realistic representation in favor of expressive, flattened shapes and vibrant hues to convey emotion and meaning. His innovative style strongly influenced modern art movements such as Symbolism and Expressionism.