Lesson plan
Otahi
Otahi (French: Seule - English: Alone) is an 1893 oil on canvas painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. Painted in Tahiti, the pose the subject takes is considered one to have been taboo as it is one where the woman makes herself ready for sexual penetration. The woman wears a pareo around her loin. The work was part of a lawsuit between Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier, and the auction house Sotheby's, with the former accusing the two latter parties of inflating prices. Otahi, which was purchased by Rybolovlev for a reputed sum of $120 million US, only resold for some odd $50 million US, resulting in a considerable loss. In 2025, the painting was given to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art by the estate of Jerry Perenchio.
Article summary
Otahi (French: Seule - English: Alone) is an 1893 oil on canvas painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. Painted in Tahiti, the pose the subject takes is considered one to have been taboo as it is one where the woman makes herself ready for sexual penetration. The woman wears a pareo around her loin. The work was part of a lawsuit between Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier, and the auction house Sotheby's, with the former accusing the two latter parties of inflating prices. Otahi, which was purchased by Rybolovlev for a reputed sum of $120 million US, only resold for some odd $50 million US, resulting in a considerable loss. In 2025, the painting was given to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art by the estate of Jerry Perenchio.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.