---
title: Where Do We Come From? What are We? Where Are We Going? by Gauguin
author: Boston Museum of Fine Arts
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15765/where-do-we-come-from-what-are-we-where-are-we-goi/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Where Do We Come From? What are We? Where Are We Going? by Gauguin

_Authored by Boston Museum of Fine Arts_

## Image File

[![Where Do We Come From? What are We? Where Are We Going? by Gauguin](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15765.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15765.png)

## Image Caption

An 1897 oil on canvas, *Where Do We Come From? What are We? Where Are We Going?*, by [Paul Gauguin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Paul_Gauguin/) (1848-1903), the French post-impressionist painter. This huge frieze-like canvas measures 4.5 metres (15 ft) in length, but none of its ambiguous and mystical figures presents an easy answer to the questions in the painting's title. Gauguin considered the work the finest of his entire career. (Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts, USA)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Arts, B. M. o. F. (2022, May 02). Where Do We Come From? What are We? Where Are We Going? by Gauguin. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15765/where-do-we-come-from-what-are-we-where-are-we-goi/>
### Chicago
Arts, Boston Museum of Fine. "Where Do We Come From? What are We? Where Are We Going? by Gauguin." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 02, 2022. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15765/where-do-we-come-from-what-are-we-where-are-we-goi/>.
### MLA
Arts, Boston Museum of Fine. "Where Do We Come From? What are We? Where Are We Going? by Gauguin." *World History Encyclopedia*, 02 May 2022, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15765/where-do-we-come-from-what-are-we-where-are-we-goi/>.

## License & Copyright

[![copyright source](/images/partners/wikiart-logo-50px.png)](https://www.wikiart.org/en/paul-gauguin/where-do-we-come-from-what-are-we-where-are-we-going-1897)First published on [WikiArt.org](http://www.wikiart.org/) and republished. [Original image](https://www.wikiart.org/en/paul-gauguin/where-do-we-come-from-what-are-we-where-are-we-going-1897) by [**Boston Museum of Fine Arts**](https://www.wikiart.org/en/paul-gauguin/where-do-we-come-from-what-are-we-where-are-we-going-1897). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 02 May 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.