Noanoa Pl.23
Beneath a cascade of handwritten French poetry, a haunting scene unfolds in deep blue tones. This is a page from Paul Gauguin's famous *Noa Noa* manuscript, a travelogue he created to explain his exotic Tahitian paintings to the Parisian art world. The central nude figure, crouching and vulnerable, is flanked by shadowy, almost spiritual presences—one dark and standing, another kneeling with a spear. The title *Noa Noa* means 'fragrant' in Tahitian, referring to the scent of the islands, though this specific image feels more like a mysterious, symbolic dream. Gauguin actually collaborated with writer Charles Morice on the text, blending his own rough notes with Morice's flowery prose to craft the myth of a 'savage' paradise.
- Technique
- Blue ink and pencil
- Material
- Paper
Location: Musée du Louvre