The French Post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin (7 letters) was a leading figure in the Symbolist movement. He was born in Paris in 1848 and is best known for his bold use of color and expressive, often symbolic, figures. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and Tahiti, and his works are characterized by a vivid palette and a dreamlike quality. His paintings often depicted scenes from his travels, as well as scenes from his own imagination.