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How did Albert Aurier support the art of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin?

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Painting by Gustave Courbet showing the artist at his easel in a crowded studio, surrounded by figures including a nude model, onlookers, and a child with a white dog. — Art criticism *The Painter's Studio*, oil on canvas by Gustave Courbet, 1854–55, in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.

The French critic Albert Aurier played a pivotal role in championing the work of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin during a period when avant-garde art often faced critical resistance.1

Aurier’s support was instrumental in elevating their reputations through perceptive and appreciative writing:

Vincent van Gogh: In 1890, Aurier authored the first-ever article dedicated to van Gogh, providing a highly positive and insightful interpretation of the artist's work.1
Paul Gauguin: In an influential 1891 essay, Aurier championed Gauguin’s Symbolism, specifically praising his simplicity and emotive power. He further defined the Symbolist position in painting through his writing in the Mercure de France, where he advocated for art that gives visual expression to the inner life, subjective states, and decorative functions.12

Beyond his specific critiques, Aurier’s broader theoretical work, such as his "Essay on a New Method of Criticism," encouraged viewers to approach new art with a "mystical" perspective, effectively helping to establish the modern status of avant-garde art.1