Which statement BEST contrasts Van Gogh and Gauguin?

• A. Van Gogh's expressive, swirling brushwork; Gauguin's flatter patches of color and simplified forms.
• B. Gauguin's color is more subdued and restrained compared to Van Gogh's bold palette.
• C. Gauguin's use of exotic or symbolic subjects prefigures Synthetism, while Van Gogh's emphasis is on emotion and movement.
• D. Both artists share identical approaches to subject matter and technique.

Answer: (C)

The contrast being tested is how each artist uses subject matter and form to express their ideas. Gauguin pushes symbolic meaning through exotic subjects and flat areas of color, a path that leads toward Synthetism—he aims to synthesize form and color to convey ideas beyond literal representation. Van Gogh, by contrast, focuses on emotion and movement, using energetic, expressive brushwork and vivid color to communicate psychological states and dynamism in the scene. This makes the statement the best choice, because it directly pairs Gauguin’s symbolist, color-field approach with Van Gogh’s emphasis on feeling and motion. The other options mix partial traits (like flat color for Gauguin) without capturing the clear contrast in intention—symbolic content versus emotional expression—and thus don’t contrast the artists as effectively.