When Will You Marry?

"When Will You Marry?" is a stunning oil painting by French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin, created in 1892. This masterpiece was on loan to the Kunstmuseum in Basel, Switzerland, for nearly fifty years before Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani purchased it in February 2015 for approximately $210 million, making it one of the most expensive artworks ever sold. It was displayed at the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen until June 2015.

Gauguin's 1891 trip to Tahiti inspired this painting. He went there in search of a pure, unspoiled artistic paradise, but the realities of colonization and the erosion of indigenous culture were evident on the island. Despite this, Gauguin often portrayed native women in his art, including the figures in "When Will You Marry?". The painting depicts a young woman in traditional Tahitian attire with a white tiare flower behind her ear, indicating that she is seeking a husband. Another woman, dressed in Western-style clothes, makes a gesture that can be interpreted as either threatening or warning. Gauguin’s use of vibrant colors and thoughtful composition, along with the inscription "NAFEA Faa ipoipo" (When will you marry?), adds depth and layers of meaning to the piece.

Critics have noted that Gauguin's romanticized depiction of Tahitian life contrasts sharply with the island's harsh colonial realities. Despite his hopes to generate interest and sales through his paintings, Gauguin was met with indifference upon returning to France. "When Will You Marry?" was exhibited in 1893 but did not attract buyers at the high price he had set. It was eventually purchased by Rudolf Staechelin in 1917, adding to its complex history of reception and ownership.

In an interesting twist, a pencil sketch of the central figure in the painting was discovered and authenticated during a 2017 episode of the TV show "Fake or Fortune?".