Cheetham Reading Assignment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cheetham Reading Assignment - Coursework Example Cheetham suggests that Emanuel Swedenborg influenced Gauguin’s inspirations outright. Schopenhauer’s analyses Gauguin’s achievement as genius, madness and memory. He elaborates and defines genius as the capacity to remain in a state of pure perception which could be blended with madness as his genius defies social norms. Lastly the madness connects to the memory as it focuses on the platonic ideas which are seen through the mirrors of inner thoughts. Schopenhauers purely neoplatonic theory perfectly describes the â€Å"disjunctions† found in so many of Gauguin’s paintings as he tends to interpret the things in terms of ‘higher meaning and distort nature. He laments that he derives meanings from the inner thoughts and not materialistic world. Aurier’s reference to â€Å"pure† Ideas the touchstone for the neoplatonic foundation of Gauguin’s abstract art as the memories confront the artists with the ultimate reality. The neoplatonic philosophy in late nineteenth century France was popular as it offered metaphysical security which helped artists to escape from the harsh realities of the