SÉRUSIER, Paul
(b. 1864, Paris, d. 1927, Morlaix)

Breton Wrestling Match

1894
Oil on canvas, 92 x 73 cm
Musée d'Orsay, Paris

In this painting Sérusier, who regularly visited Brittany from 1888, portrays the gouren, which still played an important role in traditional festivals in Brittany even during the late nineteenth century. Only a few positions were allowed in this extremely ritualised system of fighting, for instance the position called in Breton the "klikedou," shown here. The men were required to fight barefoot and wear simple white linen shirts.

The two-dimensional effect of the painting betrays the influence of Gauguin.